


** 











ff «*H 




<h ' O *• -<~~ v- or 








GOSPEL SONNETS; 

OR, 

SPIRITUAL SONGS. 

IN SIX PARTS. 



1. THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS, 

2. THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE, 

3. THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE, 

4. THE BELIEVER'S LODGING, 

5. THE BELIEVER'S SOLILOQUY, 

6. THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES, 

CONCERNING 

CREATION AND REDEMPTION, LAW AND GOSPEL, 

JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION, FAITH 

AND SENSE, HEAVEN AND EARTH. 



BY THE LATE 

REV. RALPH 5 ERSKINE, 

DUNFERMLINE. >i. 



ABERDEEN: 
GEORGE & ROBERT KING, 28, ST. NICHOLAS STREET. 

1844. 



^yC< 



,V A** 



PRINTED BY 

GEORGE AND ROBERT KING, 
28, St. Nicholas Street, Aberdeen. 



t;able of contents, 

Preface ix 

Some Account of the Rev. Ptalph Erskine xvi. 

GOSPEL SONNETS. 
PART I. 

THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 

CHAPTER I. 

A general account of man's fall in Adam, and the remedy 
provided in Christ ; and a particular account of man's 
being naturally wedded to the law as a covenant of works, 24 

Section 1. The fall of Adam, 24. Section 2. Redemption through 
Christ, 25. Section 3. Man's legal disposition, 28. Section 4. Man's 
strict attachment to legal terms, or to the law as a condition of life, 29. 
Section 5. Man's vain attempt to seek life by Christ's righteousness 
joined with his own ; and legal hopes natural to all,. 31 

CHAPTER II. 

The manner of a sinner's divorce from the law in a work of 
humiliation, and of his marriage to the Lord Jesus Christ; 
or, The way how a sinner comes to be a believer, 35 

Section 1. Of a law- work, and the workings of legal pride under 
it, 35. Section 2. Conviction of sin and wrath carried on more 
cleeply and effectually on the heart, 38, Section 3. The deeply 
humbled soul relieved with some saving discoveries of Christ the Re- 
deemer, 41. Section 4. The workings of the Spirit of faith, in sepa- 
rating the heart from all self-righteousness, and drawing out its con- 
sent to, and desire after Christ alone and wholly, 42. Section 5. 
Faith's view of the freedom of grace, cordial renunciation of all its 
own ragged righteousness, and formal acceptance of and closing with 
the person of glorious Christ, ,.,,. 46 



IV. CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER III. 

The fruits of the believer's marriage with Christ, particu- 
larly gospel-holiness, and obedience to the law as a rule, 48 

Section 1. The sweet solemnity of the marriage now over, and the 
sad effects of the remains of a legal spirit, 48. Section 2. Faith's 
victories over sin and Satan, through new and further discoveries of 
Christ, making believers more fruitful in holiness, than all other pre- 
tenders to works, 50, Section3. True saving faith magnifying the law, 
both as a covenant and rule. False faith unfruitful and ruining, 53. 
Section 4. The believer only being married to Christ, is justified and 
sanctified ; and the more gospel-freedom from the law as a covenant, 
the more holy conformity to it as a rule, 55. Section 5. Gospel- 
Grace giving no liberty to sin, but to holy service and pure obedi- 
ence 57 

CHAPTER IV. 

A caution to all against a legal spirit, especially to those that 
have a profession without power, and learning without 
grace, , 58 

CHAPTER V. 

Arguments and encouragements to gospel-ministers to avoid 
a legal strain of doctrine, and endeavour the sinner's 
match with Christ by gospel means, 62 

Section 1. A legal spirit the root of damnable errors, 62. Section 

2. A legal strain of doctrine discovered, and discarded, 63. Section 

3. The hurtfulness of not preaching Christ, and distinguishing duly 
between law and gospel, 64. Section 4. Damnable pride and self- 
righteousness, so natural to all men, has little need to be encouraged 
by legal preaching, 66. Section 5. The gospel of divine grace the 
only means of converting sinners ; and it should therefore be preached 
most clearly, fully, and freely, 69 

CHAPTER VI. 

An exhortation to all that are out of Christ, in order to 
their closing the match with him ; containing also mo- 
tives and directions 73 

Section 1. Conviction offered to sinners, especially such as are 
wedded to. the law, or self-righteousness ; that they may see their 



CONTENTS. V> 

need of Christ's righteousness, 73. Section 2. Direction given with 
reference to the right use of the means, that we rest not on these in- 
stead of Christ, the glorious Husband, in whom alone our help lies, 76. 
Section 3. A call to believe in Jesus Christ, with some hints at the 
act and object of faith, 80. Section 4. An advice to sinners to 
apply to the sovereign mercy of God, as it is discovered through 
Christ, to the highest honour of justice, and other divine attributes, 
in order to further their faith in him unto salvation, 82. Section 5. 
The terrible doom of unbelievers that reject the gospel-match, the 
offered Saviour and salvation 86 

PART II. 

The Believer's Jointure. 

CHAPTER I. 

Containing the Privileges of the Believer that is espoused to 
Christ by Faith of Divine operation 91 

Section 1. The believer's perfect beauty, free acceptance, and full 
security, through the imputation of Christ's perfect righteousness, 
though imparted grace be imperfect, 91. Section 2. Christ the be- 
liever's friend, prophet, priest, king, defence, guide, guard, help, and 
healer, 94. Section 3. Christ the believer's wonderful physician and 
wealthy friend, 96. Section 4. The believer's safety under the co- 
vert of Christ's atoning blood and powerful intercession, 98. Sec- 
tion 5. The believer's faith and hope encouraged, even in the 
darkest nights of desertion and distress, 100. Section 6. Benefits 
accruing to believers, from the offices, names, natures, and sufferings 
of Christ, 102. Section 7. Christ's sufferings further improved, 
and believers called to live by faith, both when they have and want 
sensible influences, 105. Section 8. Christ the believer's enriching 
treasure, 107. Section 9. Christ the believer's adorning garment, 
108. Section 10. Christ the believer's sweet nourishment 109 

CHAPTER II. 

Containing Marks and Characters of Believers in Christ, 
together with some further Privileges and grounds of 
Comfort to Saints 110 

Section 1. Doubting believers called to examine themselves by 
marks drawn from their love to him and his presence, their view of 
his glory, and their being emptied of self-righteousness, &c. 110. 
Section 2. Believers described from their faith acting by divine aid, 
and fleeing quite out of themselves to Jesus Christ, 113. Section 3. 
Believers characterised by the objects and purity of their desires, 



VI. CONTENTS. 

delight, joy, hatred, and love, discovering they have the spirit of 
Christ, 115. Section 4. Believers in Christ affect his counsel, word, 
ordinances, appearance, full enjoyment in heaven, and sweet pres- 
ence here, 117. Section 5. The true believer's humility, depen- 
dance, zeal, growth, admiration of free grace and knowledge of Christ's 
voice, 119. Section 6. True believers are willing to be tried and 
examined. Also, comforts arising to them from Christ's ready sup- 
ply, real sympathy, and relieving names suiting their need, 121. 
Section 7. The believer's experience of Christ's comfortable pres- 
ence, or of former comforts, to be improved for his encouragement 
and support under hidings, 124. Section 8. Comfort to believers 
from the stability of the promise, notwithstanding heavy chastise- 
ments for sin, 127. Section 9. Comfort to believers from Christ's 
relations, his dying love, his glory in heaven, to which he will lead 
them through death, and supply them with all necessaries by the 
way, .129. Section 10. Comfort to believers from the text, " Thy 
-Maker is thy Husband," inverted thus, Thy Husband is thy Maker ; 
<jnd the conclusion of this subject 131 

PART III. 

The Believer's Riddle ; or, The Mystery of Faith. 

The Preface, showing the use and design of the Riddle, 
and how all fatal errors proceed from ignorance of such 
mysteries 135 

Section 1. The mystery of the saint's pedigree, and especially of 
their relation to Christ's wonderful person, 138. Section 2. The 
mystery of the saints' life, state and frame, 145. Section 3. Mys- 
teries about the saints' work and warfare, sins, sorrows, and joys, 
153. Section 4. Mysteries hi faith's extractions, way and walk, 
prayers and answers, heights and depths, fear and love, 158. Sec- 
tion 5. Mysteries about flesh and spirit, liberty and bondage, and 
life and death, 168. Section 6. The mystery of free justification 
through Christ's obedience and satisfaction, 172. Section 7. The 
mystery of God the justifier ; and faith justifying him, both in his 
justifying and condemning ; or soul-justification and self-condemna- 
tion, 178. Section 8. The mystery of sanctification imperfect in 
this life ; or, the believer doing all, and doing nothing, 185. Sec- 
tion 9. The mystery of various names given to saints ; or, the flesh 
and spirit described from inanimate things, vegetables, and sensi- 
tives, 190. Section 10. The mystery of the saints' old and new 
man further described, and the means of their spiritual life, 196. 
Section 11. The mystery of Christ, his names, natures, and offices, 
202. Section 12. The mystery of the believer's mixed state further 
enlarged, and his getting good out of evil, 208. Section 13. The 



CONTENTS. Vll. 

mystery of the saints' adversaries and adversities, 213. Section 14. 
The mystery of the believer's pardon and security from revenging 
wrath, notwithstanding his sin's desert, 218. Section 15. The 
mystery of faith and sight, 225. Section 16. The mystery of faith 
and works, 228 — and of rewards of grace and debt, 232. The 
conclusion 235 

PART IV. 

The Believer's Lodging, 

A Paraphrase upon Psalm lxxxiv. 237. Exercise for the believer 
in his lodging, fourfold, 243. 1. The holy law ; or, The ten com- 
mandments, 243. 2. The unholy heart the reverse of God's law, 244. 
3. The glorious gospel of Christ the remedy, 244. 4. The prayer 
of faith exemplified, , 244 

PART V. 

The Believer's Soliloquy, especially in times of 
desertion, temptation, affliction, &c 246 

Section 1. The deserted believer longing for perfect freedom from 
sin, 246. Section 2. The deserted believer's prayer under com- 
plaints of unbelief, darkness, deadness, and hardness, 248. Section 
3. The believer wading through depths of desertion and corruption, 
251. Section 4. The believer's complaint of sin, sorrow, and want 
of love, 252. Section 5. The deserted soul's prayer for the Lord's 
gracious and sin-subduing presence, 255. Section 6. The song of 
heaven desired by saints on earth, 256 

PART VI. 

The Believer's Principles. 

CHAPTER I. 

Concerning Creation and Redemption ; or, some of the 
first principles of the oracles of God, 259 

Section 1. Of Creation. The first chapter of Genesis compendized, 
259. The sum of creation, 260. Section 2. Of redemption. The 
mystery of the Redeemer's incarnation, or God manifested in the flesh, 
the sum of redemption, 261. Section 3. The Redeemer's works ; or 
Christ all in all, and our complete redemption. A gospel catechism for 
young Christians, 262. Section 4. Faith and works both excluded 
from the matter of justification before God, that redemption may ap- 
pear to be only in Christ, 267 



viii CONTEXTS. 

CHAPTER II. 

Concerning the law and the gospel, 269 

Section 1. The mystery of law and gospel, 269. Section 2. The 
difference between the law and the gospel, 281. Section 3. The 
harmony between the law and the gospel, 285. Section 4. The pro- 
per place and station of the law and the gospel, in four paragraphs, 289. 
Paragraph 1. The place and station of law and gospel in general, ib. 
Paragraph 2. The place and station of law and gospel in particular, 
290. Paragraph 3. The gospel no new law ; but a joyful sound of 
grace and mercy, 295. Paragraph 4. The gospel further described, 
as a bundle of good news and gracious promises, 297 

CHAPTER III. 

Concerning Justification and Sanctification, their difference 
and harmony, 299 

Section 1. The difference between justification and sanctification, 
or righteousness imputed, and grace imparted, in upwards of thirty 
particulars, 299. Section 2. The harmony between justification and 
sanctification, 304 

CHAPTER IV. 

Concerning Faith and Sense, 307 

Section 1 . Faith and sense natural compared and distinguished, 307 . 
Section 2. Faith and sense spiritual compared and distinguished, 309. 
Section 3. The harmony and discord between faith and sense, 311. 
Section 4. The valour and victories of faith, 312. Section 5. The 
heights and depths of sense, 315. Section 6. Faith and frames com- 
pared, or faith building upon sense discovered, 316 

CHAPTER V. 

Concerning Heaven and Earth, 319 

Section 1. The work and contention of heaven, 319. Section 2. 
Earth despicable, heaven desirable, 322 



THE 

PEEFACE TO THE READER 



Reader, 
Whatever apologies this book has formerly been prefaced 
with, (as to the manner in which many lines in it are writ- 
ten,) shall be here altogether dropt and forborne. I now 
dismiss it as it is, under the conduct of divine Providence, 
to take its hazard in the world ; since it has already served 
its apprenticeship under several impressions, and gone both 
through kind and hard usage, through good and bad report. 
It never promised much to them that seek nothing but pleasure 
and satisfaction to their fancy 5 but I have heard, that it has 
done some service (and I hope, through the blessing of hea- 
ven, it may yet do more) to them that seek profit and edifica- 
tion to their souls. 

The London edition of this book being more full and com- 
plete than any that was before emitted, it is fit here to ac- 
quaint the reader, that this is printed exactly from that copy, 
without any material addition or alteration, except in the 
third part of the book that comes under the name of Riddles, 
or Mysteries; and part Sixth, Chap. ii. Sect. 1. intitled, 
The Believer's Principles, concerning the mysteries of the law 
and gospel : both of which (because there were several de- 
mands in this country for a new edition) I thought fit to con- 
firm by scripture-texts, cited at the bottom of the page, for 
the benefit of those that are weak in knowledge, and unac- 
quainted with the scripture.* I have directed them, by a 
letter of the alphabet, at every branch of the sentence that is 
either seemingly or really opposite to the other, unto some 
scripture texts, one or more, for evincing the truth thereof: 
by which means, the weakest that is willing, may come to 
understand the most difficult paradox, or mystery, mentioned 
in this work ; at least so far as to see, that every part of it 
is founded on the word of God, either directly, or by plain 
and necessary consequence. Only this general rule is to be 

* The scriptures in this edition are extended at full length. 
B 



observed, namely, That the reader always consider what is 
the subject treated in every section or stanza ; and this, for 
the sake of the most illiterate, I shall illustrate by two exam- 
ples ; the one concerning the law, the other concerning the 
believer. The former you see Part III. Sect. VI. ver. 25, 
p. 201 : 

I'm not oblig'd to keep it more, 
Yet more oblig'd than e'er before. 

Here you are to remark, that as the subject spoken of is 
the law, so the law in scripture is considered two ways, viz. 
both as a covenant of works, and as a rule of duty. Now, 
that the believer is under no obligation to the law, as it is a 
covenant of works, or to perform obedience to it as a ground 
of justification, (which is also the subject treated in that Sec- 
tion,) is confirmed in the foot-notes by the following scrip- 
tures, to which you are directed by the letter (s), Rom. vi. 
14 ; Gal. v. 1 — 4. Where you may see believers are said 
to be " not under the law, but under grace ;" and exhorted 
to u stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them 
free; and assured, u that Christ is become of no effect to 
them, whosoever of them are justified by the law ; they are 
fallen from grace." — Again, that the believer is under more 
obligation than ever, before he was justified, to yield obedi- 
ence to the law as it is a rule of life , (which is the other 
branch of that paradox,) is confirmed by these following 
texts of scripture, to which you are directed by the letter (£,) 
Rom. vi. 1, 2, 15, where it is said, " Shall we continue in 
sin, that grace may abound? God forbid: how shall we 
that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? What then? 
shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under 
grace ? God forbid." — From which texts, together with 
their contexts, it is evident, that the believer's freedom from 
the law as a covenant, does not at all free him from obliga- 
tion to it as a rule, but superadds to the natural obligation 
that of grace, which both argument atively and affectively 
teaches what the law does authoritatively and perceptively, 
namely, " to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live 
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world," Tit. 
ii. 11, 12. 

The other example I adduce, you may read, Part III. 
Sect. II. verse 47, where the words are, 

To good and evil equal bent, 
I'm both a devil and a saint. 



PREFACE, XI. 

Here the reader may notice, that the subject spoken of is 
the believer, or the saints' old and new man described, 
(which is part of the title of that Section,) or considered as 
to his unregenerate and regenerate part ; in which view he 
is frequently spoken of in scripture : ex. gr. 1 John iii. 6, 
9, it is said of the believer, or the person born of God, that 
he sinneth not, and that he cannot sin, because he is born of 
God : there he is spoken of as to his new nature, or regen- 
erate part. But, 1 John i. 8, the words are, " If we say that 
we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in 
us:" where the apostle speaks of believers' unregenerate and 
corrupt part. Now, this being the scriptural representation 
of the believer, the foresaid paradox is easily proven from 
scripture. 

The first branch is, That he is equally bent to good and 
to evil. For the proof of this, you are directed in the foot- 
note to Rom. vii. 21, where the apostle Paul, speaking both 
of his corrupt and renewed part, says, " I find a law, that 
when I would do good, evil is present with me." And if 
you read the preceding and following context, you will find 
him complaining how corruption bends him as far one way as 
grace another. 

The other part of the same paradox is, that the believer 
is, on these accounts, both a devil and a saint. Now, that 
the believer is by nature and corruption a devil, is one branch 
of this position here to be confirmed. That he is so by na- 
ture, is proven by the following scriptures in the forecited 
page at the bottom. John vi. 70, and viii. 44 compared ; 
where Christ, speaking of some that were in a natural state, 
viz. of Judas and the Jews, discovers what is the state of all 
men by nature : that ' l they are of their father the devil, since 
the lusts of their father they will do ;" and therefore may be 
called devils, as our Lord calls Judas, saying, u I have cho- 
sen you twelve, and one of you is a devil." And such are 
believers also naturally, as descendants of the first Adam, 
being u children of disobedience, and children of wrath by 
na ture, even as others," Eph. ii. 2, 3. And that the be- 
liever is so, not only by nature but also by reason of remain- 
ing corruption, is proven at the foot of the same page, from 
James iii. 15, where that apostle, speaking of strife and envy, 
that may be even among the children of God, (which indeed 
has too much taken place in all ages,) says, " This wisdom 
descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.'' 
Again, that though the believer be by nature and corruption 

b2 



XU. PREFACE. 

a devil, yet he is, by grace and regeneration, a saint, is docu- 
mented also, in the same page, from I Cor. vi. 11. " Such 
were some of you ; but ye are sanctified," &c. 

In this manner, you may easily go over all the rest of the 
paradoxes, riddles, or mysteries, contained in this book, and 
find them evidently confirmed by the scriptures of truth, the 
word of God. This might be no unprofitable exercise, but 
tend to lead you into the true knowledge of the gospel, to 
which mysteries are so essential, that it is designed by them, 
and called the wisdom of God in a mystery, 1 Cor. ii. 7 ; 
and the knowledge of which is so essential to Christianity, 
and so absolutely necessary to salvation, that the same apos- 
tle declares, tha,t tc if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them 
that are lost ; in whom the god of this world hath blinded 
the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the 
glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should 
shine unto them," 2 Cor. iv. 3. 4. 

Again, if you search the scriptures, you will see many 
more proofs for every point than I have adduced, and per- 
haps many much more apposite ; for those only are set down 
at the bottom of the page that first occurred to me : yet, I 
suppose, though sometimes but one, and sometimes more 
scriptures are pointed out, they are such as sufficiently con- 
firm the positions they relate to. But that other scriptures 
might have been adduced in plenty, I shall give one instance, 
in the paradox now mentioned, viz. That every believer, 
while in this world, is both a devil and a saint. The latter 
clause is what none will deny, namely, That every true be- 
liever is a saint ; for further proof of which, you might see 
Acts xv. 9, and xxvi. 18, &c. But because the first clause 
may seem more harsh, it may by scripture be also further 
evinced two ways : 1st. In respect of the daily commission 
of sin he has to challenge himself with ; for the scripture 
says, Eccl. vii. 20, u There is not a just man upon the earth, 
that doeth good and sinneth not." And with this compare 
1 John iii. 8, " He that committeth sin, is of the devil." 
Hence it is plain, there is not a just man upon earth, but 
may, in respect of the commission of sin, be called a devil. 
2dly, In respect of prevalent temptations, by which he 
may be hurried into those things " that savour not of God, 
but of men ;" on which account Christ says to Peter, Matt, 
xvi. 23, u Get thee behind me, Satan." And if Christ calls 
Peter a devil, whom he hath described as a saint of the first 
magnitude, verse 17, one divinely blessed and enlightened; 



PREFACE. Xlll. 

what occasion may every believer have to call himself a devil ! 
Yea, it is a part of his faith and sanctity, to see and acknow- 
ledge, with shame before the Lord, his own devilish and des- 
perately wicked heart and nature ; which a blind self-con- 
ceited world are ignorant of, being neither acquainted with 
themselves, nor with God and his word. However, so it is, 
that the more any shall search the scripture, the more, I 
hope, will they discern, not only by the texts I have quoted, 
but from many others also, the truth and evidence of every 
part of this book, however mysterious some passages of it 
may seem to many. 

Though some of these lines may want the politeness that 
can please the curious age, yet, while they stand firm upon a 
scriptural foundation, none of them want authority, and that 
of the highest nature, except in the account of mockers, and 
those (of whom there are too many in our day) that are either 
Deists, who undervalue the scripture, or Atheists, who deride 
it: and it is sadly to be regretted, that those people are 
hardened in their wicked principles and practices, by some 
that perhaps have a higher profession. For I have seen two 
prints, one called the Groan, and another the Laugh, wherein 
some lines, picked out among others, have been exposed to 
ridicule : but however such gentlemen may laugh at then- 
own sport, and wickedly divert themselves with serious mat- 
ters for a time, I fear their laughing will issue in weeping 
for ever ; if God by giving them repentance, do not make 
them groan to purpose, for the evidence they thus give of 
either their grievous ignorance of the scripture, or their 
gross profanity, and of their readiness to yield themselves 
instruments of the devil, to promote the atheistical spirit of 
the age, which is bent enough, without any such provoca- 
tions, to laugh at everything serious, sacred, and scriptural. 
This is so palpable, without my observation upon it, and so 
self-evident to all that fear God, and have had the patience 
to read such prints, that I would not have thought them 
worth my notice so far, as to make this bare mention of 
them, had not Providence put the pen in my hand to preface 
this edition, wherein scriptural proofs are added to that part 
of the book. 

Reader, it gives me satisfaction enough to understand 
that this book has already been useful and edifying to some, 
however it is entertained by others. The gospel itself is to 
some the savour of life, to others the savour of death ; to some 
wisdom, to others foolishness ; to some matter of faith, love ? 

b3 



and comfort, to others matter of mockery and scorn. I 
shall be far from thinking it any discredit or disparagement 

to this book, if it meet with the like entertainment May the 

Lord of heaven and earth, who over-rules all things, accom- 
pany it, in its journeys abroad or at home, with his blessing 
to many souls ; and to his care I commend it, in the words 
of a famous Scots poet, upon Psalm xxxv. 1. 

Rerum sancte Opifex, ades, 

Et patrocinio protege me tuo. 

Which may be adapted to the matter in hand thus : 
The truth which hell may criticise, 
Great God, be near to patronise. 



A Poem, dedicated to the Rev. Mr. Ralph Er shine : by a 
Lady in New England, upon reading his Gospel Sonnets. 

Erskine, thou blessed herald, sound 
Till sin's black empire totter to the ground. 
Well hast thou Sinai's awful flames display'd, 
And rebels' doom before their conscience laid ; 
From sin, from self, from trust in duty fly, 
Commit thy naked soul to Christ, or die, 
Go on and prosper in the name of God, 
Seraphic preacher, through the thorny road ; 
The gracious Christ thy labours will reward ; 
His angel bands be thy perpetual guard ; 
Though hell's dark regions at the present hiss, 
The God of glory thy strong refuge is. 
Mere moral preachers have no pow'r to charm, 
Thy lines are such my nobler passions warm \ 
These glorious truths have set my heart on fire, 
And while I read, I'm love and pure desire. 
May the black grain of errors hatch' d in hell 
No longer on this globe in quiet dwell ; 
May more like you be rais'd to shew their shame, 
And call them by their diabolic name. 
Exalt the Lamb in lovely white and red, 
Angels and saints his lasting honours spread ; 
My trembling soul shall bear her feeble part, 
'Tis he hath charm'd my soul, and won my heart. 
Bless' d be the Father for electing love, 
Bless'd be the Son who does my guilt remove, 
Bless'd be the Dove who does his grace apply : 
Oh ! may I praising live, and praising die ! 



SOME ACCOUNT 



EEY. RALPH EESKINE. 



The Rev. Mr. Ralph Erskine was honourably descended 
of very respectable ancestors ; his father, the Rev. Mr. 
Henry Erskine being one of the thirty-three children of 
Ralph Erskine, of Sheffield, a family of considerable repute and 
standing in the county of Merse, and originally descended 
from the ancient house of Mar. Our Author , and his brother , 
the Rev. Mr. Ebenezer Erskine, late minister of the gospel 
at Stirling, were two of the children of the said Rev. Mr. 
Henry Erskine, who was sometime minister of the gospel at 
Cornwall, afterwards at Chirnside ;* a man eminent in his 
day, and justly distinguished for his piety and firm attach- 
ment to Presbyterian principles, for his stedfast adherence 
to which, he was subjected to many considerable hardships 
in the latter part of the last century, during the persecuting 
period of Charles II. and James VII. f 

The Author of the following Poems, was born at Moni- 
laws, in the county of Northumberland, on Sabbath the 
15th of March, 1685, at three o'clock in the afternoon; and 
baptized at Chirnside on the 5th of April said year, by the 
Rev. Mr. William Violand. 

He gave pretty early proofs of a great genius and fine 
fancy, and several instances of a pious disposition and a 
solid way of reflecting on matters. On this account he was, 
by his parents, early destined for the holy ministry, who re- 
solved to give him a regular and liberal education, in order 
to qualify him for that important office. 

When he had acquired a competent measure of Grammar, 
and other introductory parts of education, he went to the 

* Cornwall is in the shire of Northumberland ; Chirnside lies 
about five miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed, on the Scots side, 
t See the continuation of Calamy's Life of Baxter, p. 60, 



SOME ACCOUNT OF 



university of Edinburgh, to complete his studies ; where he 
went through the ordinary courses of Philosophy and Divi- 
nity with success ; and made a considerable progress in the 
branches of literature : for he soon became a fine ,grecian, 
an excellent logician, and an accomplished philosopher. 
But after having acquired such a competent measure of 
knowledge, in these various branches of erudition, he gave 
himself up to the study of Theology, his darling and be- 
loved topic ; in which he made great progress, as his pro- 
ductions therein do abundantly evince. 

The ordinary course of philosophical and theological 
studies being gone through, at the college of Edinburgh, 
with success, he was, in the providence of God, called forth 
to appear in a public character ; and being well reported of, 
by all who knew him, for a conversation becoming the gos- 
pel, he was accordingly taken upon trial by the Presbytery 
of Dunfermline : and having finished the usual pieces of 
trial assigned him, to the entire satisfaction of the Presby- 
tery, he was by them licensed to preach, as a probationer, 
the everlasting gospel, on the 8th of June, 1709. In which 
capacity, he exercised the talents which the Lord had gra- 
ciously conferred on him, within the bounds of the said 
Presbytery, both in vacancies and settled congregations, to 
the great satisfaction of his hearers, both ministers and peo- 
ple, as his certificate from that Presbytery, dated April 4th, 
1711, expressly bears. In this station of life he did not 
long remain : Providence soon opened a door for him ; and 
he got an unanimous call from the parishioners of Dunferm- 
line, on the 1st of May, 1711, to exercise his ministerial 
talents and abilities among them ; which call was approven 
of by the Presbytery, on the day following, as regularly pro- 
ceeded in. He went through the usual pieces of trial, for 
ordination, prescribed by the Presbytery, with approbation ; 
and thereupon they set him apart to the office of the holy 
ministry, in the collegiate charge of Dunfermline, on August 
7, 1711. 

Under the character of a minister of the gospel, having 
now a pastoral relation to a particular flock, in the church 
universal, he " determined not to know any thing, save 
Jesus Christ and him crucified." He was u instant in sea- 
son and out of season," in all parts of his ministerial labours, 
and gave himself wholly thereunto ; exhorting the people 
under his trust, from house to house, in the way of family 
visitation ; examining them more publicly upon the principles 



THE RET. RALPH ERSKINE. XV11, 

of our holy religion ; visiting the sick when called • and 
preaching the everlasting gospel, in which he had a very 
pleasing and edifying gift. He preached by turns, with his 
colleague, every Sabbath and Thursday, through the year : 
and afterwards, when he had none, for several years before 
his death, he officiated alone, very punctually, both on Sab- 
bath and week-day. 

He delivered few extemporary productions. His sermons 
were generally the fruit of diligent study and assiduous ap- 
plication. For the most part he wrote all ; and kept very 
close by his notes in the delivery, except when the Lord was 
pleased to carry in upon his mind, in time of preaching, 
some pat and apposite enlargements, whereof he had no pre- 
vious study, and to which he nevertheless cheerfully gave 
way, as coming from him, who has the tongue of the learned-. 
who knows how to speak a word in season to him that is 
weary ; and who says, " It shall be given you the same hour 
what ye shall speak ; for it is not ye that speak, but the 
Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you." He was bless- 
ed with a rich and fertile invention, as appears in the agree- 
able and entertaining diversity wherewith his heads of doc- 
trine are every- where adorned. The poetical genius, with 
which he was happily endowed, contributed not a little to the 
embellishment of his discourses, with a variety of pertinent 
epithets and striking metaphors. 

His gift of preaching was both instructing and searching. 
Few outshone him in the nervous and convincing manner 
whereby he confirmed the truth of the doctrines he insisted 
on ; and fewer still in the warm and pathetic address, in 
which he enforced the practice of them. 

He peculiarly excelled in the ample and free offers of 
Christ he made to his hearers ; and the captivating and al- 
luring methods he used, for gaining their compliance, or 
their receiving and resting on Christ alone for their salva- 
tion, as thus freely and fully exhibited to them in the gospel. 
On all which accounts he was justly esteemed, and much 
followed, as one of the most popular and edifying preachers 
of his day. During his time, sacaramental solemnities at 
Dunfermline were very much crowded ; numbers of people, 
from several parts of the kingdom, resorting unto them : and 
the Lord was pleased to countenance some of these com- 
munions, with signal evidences of his gracious presence and 
influence, to the sweet and comfortable experience of many. 

It will easily appear to the judicious and experienced 



SOME ACCOUNT OF 



reader, in perusing his writings, that he had as dexterous a 
faculty in ransacking the plagues of the heart, and describ- 
ing the diversified circumstances of serious and exercised 
souls, as if they had fully communicated their several doubts 
and cases unto him : while, in the meantime, he was only 
unfolding the inward experience of his own soul, what he 
himself felt of the workings of unbelief, and of the powerful 
influence of the Holy Spirit, in opposition thereunto; which 
could not but quadrate, or agree, with the operations of the 
self-same Spirit of God in others ; for, u as in water, face 
answereth to face, so doth the heart of man to man." 

This eminent servant of Jesus Christ, being exercised to 
godliness from his youth, became, by the grace of God, a 
44 scribe instructed into the kingdom of heaven," whom our 
Lord compares to u an householder, which bringeth forth 
out of his treasure, things new and old." Old invariable 
truths, but new illustrations of them ; old experiences, the 
same with other saints before, but new observations and im- 
provements upon them : so that, with abundance of pro- 
priety, it may be said, that there are few perplexing doubts, 
or intricate cases, which the saints have, at any time, been 
exercised with, that are not in some one or other of his ser- 
mons, very judiciously solved, and distinctly elucidated, or 
cleared up. 

During our author's life-time, and at the importunity of 
many of his acquaintances, both ministers and people, he 
published a great number of his sermons, on the most inter- 
esting subjects, which were well relished by the truly godly, 
and had their praises in the churches of Christ, both at home 
and abroad. These, with several others, transcribed from 
his notes, were first collected together after his death, and 
published along with his poems, in two large volumes in 
folio, in the years 1764 and 1765, printed in an elegant man- 
ner ; and, since that time, re-printed in ten large volumes 
octavo, for the more conveniency of readers and purchasers, 
with considerable additions and amendments — We cannot 
dismiss this account of our author, without taking notice of 
another particular concerning him, which constitutes a very 
material branch of his character. He was not only deserv- 
edly esteemed as a judicious divine, but also much respected 
as a poet : and he hath favoured the world with several 
excellent productions of that nature, which have all met with 
a very favourable reception. His poetical talent was em- 
ployed chiefly on divine subjects ; he had no relish and taste 



THE REV. RALPH ERSKINE. XIX. 

for any other. In his younger years, at his leisure hours, 
he composed the following piece, which is now entitled, gos- 
pel sonnets; or, spiritual songs, in Six Parts. The 
usefulness of this poetical compend of the revealed principles 
of our holy religion, for promoting the life of faith, comfort, 
and holiness, will be experienced, it is hoped, by many of 

the saints of God, to the latest posterity This piece was so 

well relished, that it hath undergone a multitude of impres- 
sions ; and the demand for it is as great as ever. 

About the year 1758, he emitted into the world his poeti- 
cal paraphrase upon the whole book of the Song of Solomon ; 
which indeed is an evangelical comment, done in a strain 
adapted to the New Testament dispensation, upon that alle- 
gorical or figurative part of holy writ. This performance 
has likewise been very acceptable, and has undergone a va- 
riety of editions. 

By emitting the above poetical essays into the world, and 
some smaller performances, our author's abilities as a poet 
came to be known ; and induced the Reverend Synod of 
which he was a member, repeatedly to importune him, to 
employ some of his vacant hours, in turning all the poetical 
passages of sacred writ, into common metre, of the same 
kind with the Psalms of David. These recommendations he 
at last complied with ; and his productions made their ap- 
pearance, under the title of " Scripture Songs, selected from 
several passages in the Old Testament," which were well 
relished, and have now undergone several editions. 

Our author, besides his sermons and poems, published 
several tracts, on some points of controversy, in which he 
displayed his abilities as a writer ; particularly an elaborate 
treatise, entitled, Faith no Fancy ; or, A Treatise of Mental 
Images: a book singularly valuable, for the clear and per- 
spicuous manner in which he hath handled and established 
this important point, every way worthy of our author, and 
which reflected the highest honour upon him ; in regard it 
hath given the greatest display of his abilities, both as a di- 
vine and philosopher, and how capable he was to exhaust 
any point, when he set himself to it, even in an abstract way 
of reasoning ; a book that effectually silenced all his oppo- 
nents, and stands to this day unanswered. 

This faithful and laborious servant of Jesus Christ laboured 
successfully in the work of the ministry, and continued pub- 
licly useful in his Master's work, till within a few days of 
his departure : for he preached in his own pulpit on Sabbath 



XX; SOME ACCOUNT OF 

the 29th of October, 1752, and he was thereafter seized, in 
the end of the same month, viz. October, 1752, with a ner- 
vous fever, (wherein, nevertheless he enjoyed the exercise of 
his judgment and senses,) which lasted only for a few days, 
and at last was the happy messenger of freeing him from the 
incumbrances of an embodied state, and leading him to the 
world of spirits, and the regions of eternal bliss and felicity ; 
for, on the eighth day of the fever, he fell asleep in the Lord, 
being Monday, Nov. 6th, 1752, in the 68th year of his age, 
after labouring unweariedly and successfully in the work of 
the ministry, among his flock in Dunfermline, for the space 
of forty-two years. Mr. Erskine, our worthy author, affords 
room for large commendations, were we disposed to give 
them ; — his complete character is truly great, and his dis- 
position exceedingly amiable. — If he is considered as to his 
natural endowments, he possessed many fine qualities ; he 
had a sweet temper, a clear head, a rich invention, a lively 

imagination, and a great memory If he is viewed as to his 

acquired abilities ; he was well acquainted with all the useful 
branches of literature, necessary to adorn the scholar and 
the minister — If he is considered as to his office ; he was a 
great and judicious divine, a pious, evangelical preacher, and 
an able casuist. In short, he was not only a learned man, 
and an able divine, but an affectionate and familiar friend, a 
social companion, a devout christian, and a burning and 
shining light. 

By his death the church of Christ lost a great light, a he- 
roic champion for the truth, and a bold contender for the 

faith once delivered unto the saints The body he was last 

connected with, have been deprived of a useful member, and 
a shining ornament to their cause.— The congregation he 
laboured among lost an able, faithful minister, a laborious 
and successful wrestler, and a painful and diligent instructor. 
— His family and relatives lost a true friend, an affectionate 
husband, a tender-hearted parent, and a striking pattern of 
virtue. — His acquaintance and intimates, an endearing bro- 
ther, a social companion, and an engaging friend. 

Mr. Erskine was twice married. His first marriage was 
with Margaret Dewar, a daughter of the Laird of Lassodie ; 
which commenced the 15th of July 1714. She lived about 
sixteen years ; during which time she bore ten children, five 
sons and five daughters : three of these sons were ministers 
in the Association, viz. the Rev. Messrs. Henry, John, and 
James ; the first ordained minister at Falkirk, the second at 



THE REV. RALPH ERSKINE. XXI. 

Leslie, and the third at Stirling. All of them died in the 
prime of life, when they had given the world just ground to 
conceive high expectations of their usefulness in the church. 
— His second marriage was with Margaret Simpson, a 
daughter of Mr. Simpson, writer to the signet at Edinburgh, 
which took place, February 24th, 1732. She bore him four 
sons, and survived himself some few years. One of the sons 
of this marriage is still in life, and resides at London. All 
his other children are now removed by death. 



AN ACROSTIC. 

M uch famed on earth, renowned for piety, 
A midst bright seraphs now sings cheerfully. 
S acred thine anthems yield much pleasure here ; 
T hese songs of thine do truly charm the ear.* 
E ach line thou wrot'st doth admiration raise, 
R ouse up the soul to true seraphic praise. 

R eligiously thy life below was spent : 

A mazing pleasures now thy soul content. 

L ong didst thou labour in the church below, 

P ointing out Christ, the Lamb, who saves from woe 

H eaven's blessedness on sinners to bestow. 

E rskine the great, whose pen spread far abroad 

R edeeming love, the sole device of God ; 

S ubstantial themes thy thoughts did much pursue ; 

K opt pure the truth, espoused but by a few. 

I ntegrity of heart, of soul serene ; 

N o friend to vice, no cloak to the profane : 

E mploy'd thy talents to reclaim the vain. 



* Alluding to his poetical pieces. 



•I 



GOSPEL SONNETS. 



PART I. 

THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS; 

A POEM 

Upon Isaiah liv. 5. Thy Maker is thy Husband, 



PREFACE. 

Hark, dying mortal, if the Sonnet prove 

A song of living and immortal love, 

'Tis then thy grand concern the theme to know* 

If life and immortality be so. 

Are eyes to read, or ears to hear a trust? 

Shall both in death be cramm'd anon with dust ? 

Then trifle not to please thine ear and eye, 

But read thou, hear thou, for eternity. 

Pursue not shadows wing'd, but be thy chase 

The God of glory, on the field of grace : 

The mighty hunter's name is lost and vain, 

That runs not this substantial prize to gain. 

These humble lines assume no high pretence, 

To please the fancy, or allure the sense, 

But aim, if everlasting life's thy chase, 

To clear thy mind, and warm thy heart thro' grace. 

A marriage so mysterious I proclaim, 
Betwixt two parties of such different fame, 
That human tongues may blush their names to tell, 
To wit, the Prince of Heav'n, the heir of hell ! 



24 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

But, on so vast a subject who can find 

Words suiting the conceptions of his mind ? 

Or, if our language with our thought could vie. 

What mortal thought can raise itself so high ? 

When words and thoughts both fail, may faith and 

pray'r 
Ascend, by climbing up the scripture-stair : 
From sacred writ these strong espousals may 
Be explicated in the foll'wing way. 



CHAPTER. I. 

A general account of Man's fall in Adam, and the remedy 
provided in Christ ; and a particular account of Man's 
being naturally wedded to the law, as a covenant of works. 

SECTION I ^Fallo/Adam. 

Old Adam once a heav'n of pleasure found, 
While he with perfect innocence was crowned ; 
His winged affections to his God could move, 
In raptures of desire, and strains of love. 
Man, standing spotless, pure, and innocent, 
Could well the law of works with works content ; 
Though then, (nor since,) it could demand no less 
Than personal and perfect righteousness : 
These, unto sinless man were easy terms, 
Though now beyond the reach of wither'd arms ; 
The legal cov'nant then upon the field, 
Perfection sought, man could perfection yield 
Rich had he, and his progeny, remain'd, 
Had he primeval innocence maintain'd : 
His life had been a rest without annoy, 
A scene of bliss, a paradise of joy. 
But subtile Satan, in the serpent hid, 
Proposing fair the fruit that God forbid, 
Man soon seduc'd by hell's alluring art, 
Did, disobedient, from the rule depart ; 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 25 

Devour'd the bait, and, by his bold offence, 

Fell from his blissful state of innocence.* 

Prostrate, he lost his God, his life, his crown, 

From all his glory tumbled headlong down ; 

Plung'd in a deep abyss of sin and wo, 

Where, void of heart to will, or hand to do, 

For's own relief he can't command a thought, 

The total sum of what he can is nought. 

He's able only now t' increase his thrall ; 

He can destroy himself, and this is all, 

But can the hellish brat Heaven's law fulfil, 

Whose precepts high surmount his strength and skill ? 

Can filthy dross produce a golden beam ? 

Or poison'd springs a salutif'rous stream ? 

Can carnal minds, fierce enmity's wide maw, 

Be duly subject to the divine law? 

Nay, now its direful threaCnings must take place 

On all the disobedient human race, 

Who do by guilt Omnipotence provoke, 

Obnoxious stand to his uplifted stroke. 

They must ingulph themselves in endless woes, 

Who to the living God are deadly foes; 

Who natively his holy will gainsay, 

Must to his awful justice fall a prey. 

Jn vain do mankind now expect, in vain 

By legal deeds immortal life to gain : 

Nay, death is threaten'd, threats must have their due, 

Or, souls that sin must die,"\ as God is true. 

SECTION II. — Redemption through Christ. 

The second Adam, sov'reign Lord of all, 
Did, by his Father's authorising call, 
From bosom of eternal love descend, 
To save the guilty race that him offend ; 
To treat an everlasting peace with those 
Who were and ever would have been his foes. 






Gen. iii. 1 — 6. f Ezek. xviii, 4. 
C 



26 GOSPEL SONNET&. [PART 

His errand, never-ending life to give 

To them, whose malice would not let him live 5 

To make a match with rebels, and espouse 

The brat which at his love her spite avows. 

Himself he humbled to depress her pride, 

And make his mortal foe his winning bride. 

But, ere the marriage can be solemniz'd, 

All lets must be remov'd, all parties pleas'd : 

Law-righteousness required, must be procur'd, 

Law- vengeance threatened, must be full endured, 

Stern justice must have credit by the match, 

Sweet mercy by the heart the bride must catch. 

Poor bankrupt ! all her debt must first be paid, 

Her former husband in the grave be laid : 

Her present lover must be at the cost, 

To save and ransom to the uttermost ; 

If all these things this suitor kind can do, 

Then he may win her, and her blessing too. 

Hard terms indeed ! while death's the first demand ; 

But love is strong as death,* and will not stand 

To carry on the suit, and make it good, 

Though at the dearest rate of wounds and blood. 

The burden's heavy, but the back is broad, 

The glorious lover is the mighty God.f 

Kind bowels yearning in th' eternal Son, 

He left his Father's court, his heav'nly throne : 

Aside he threw his most divine array, 

And wrapt his Godhead in a vail of clay. 

Angelic armies, who in glory crown'd, 

With joyful harps his awful throne surround, 

Down to the crystal frontier of the sky,f 

To see the Saviour born, did eager fly ; 

And ever since behold with wonder fresh 

Their Sov'reign and our Saviour wrapt in flesh ; 

Who in his garb did mighty love display, 

Restoring what he never took away,\ 

To God his glory, to the law its due, 

* Song viii. 6. f Isa * ix - 6 * X Luke >*• 9 — 14. 

§ Psalm lxix. 4. 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 27 

To heav'n its honour, to the earth its hue, 
To man a righteousness divine, complete, 
A royal robe to suit the nuptial rite. 
He in her favour, whom he lov'd so well, 
At once did purchase heav'n and vanquish hell. 
Oh ! unexampled love ! so vast, so strong, 
So great, so high, so deep, so broad, so long ! 
Can finite thought this ocean huge explore, 
Unconscious of a bottom or a shore ? 
His love admits no parallel, — for why ? 
At one great draught of love he drank hell dry. 
No drop of wrathful gall he left behind ; 
No dreg to witness that he was unkind. 
The sword of awful justice pierc'd his side, 
That mercy thence might gush upon the bride. 
The meritorious labours of his life, 
And glorious conquests of his dying strife, 
Her debt of doing, sufFring, both cancelPd, 
And broke the bars his lawful captive held. 
Down to the ground the hellish host he threw, 
Then mounting high the trump of triumph blew, 
Attended with a bright seraphic band, 
Sat down enthron'd sublime on God's right hand ; 
Where glorious choirs their various harps employ, 
To sound his praises with confed'rate joy. 
There he, the bride's strong intercessor, sits, 
And thence the blessing of his blood transmits, 
Sprinkling all o'er the flaming throne of God, 
Pleads for her pardon his atoning blood ; 
Sends down his holy co-eternal Dove, 
To shew the wonders of incarnate love, 
To woo and win the bride's reluctant heart, 
And pierce it with his kindly killing dart ; 
By gospel light to manifest that now 
She has no further with the law to do ; 
That her new Lord has loos'd the fed'ral tie, 
That once hard bound her, or to do or die ; 
That precepts, threats, no single might can crave ; 
Thus for her former spouse he digg'd a grave ; 

c2 



f 



28 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

The law fast to his cross did nail and pin, 
Then bury'd the defunct his tomb within, 
That he the lowly widow to himself might win, 

SECTION III Man's Leg al Disposition. 

But, after all, the bride's so mal-content, 

No argument, save pow'r is prevalent 

To bow her will, and gain her heart's consent. 

The glorious Prince's suit she disapproves, 

The law, her old primordial husband, loves ; 

Hopeful in its embraces life to have, 

Though dead and buried in her suitor's grave ; 

Uuable to give life, as once before ; 

Unfit to be a husband any more. 

Yet proudly she the new address disdains, 

And all the blest Redeemer's love and pains ; 

Though now his head, that cruel thorns did wound, 

Is with immortal glory circled round ; 

Archangels at his awful footstool bow, 

And drawing love sits smiling on his brow. 

Though now he sends in gospel-tidings good 

Epistles of his love, sign'd with his blood ; 

Yet lordly she the royal suit rejects, 

Eternal life by legal works affects ; 

In vain the living seeks among the dead,* 

Sues quick'ning comforts in a killing head. 

Her dead and bury'd husband has her heart, 

Which can nor death remove, nor life impart. 

Thus all-revolting Adam's blinded race 

In their first spouse their hope and comfort place. 

They natively expect, if guilt them press, 

Salvation by a home-bred righteousness : 

They look for favour in Jehovah's eyes, 

By careful doing all that in them lies. 

'Tis still their primary attempt to draw 

Their life and comfort from the vet'ran law ; 

They flee not to the hope the gospel gives ; 

To trust a promise bare, their minds aggrieves, 

Which judge the man that does, the man that lives. 

* Luke xxiv. 5. 



1 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 29 

As native as they draw their vital breath, 

Their fond recourse is to the legal path. 

" Why," says old Nature, " in law wedded man, 

Won't heaven be pleased, if I do all I can ? 

If I conform my walk to nature's light, 

And strive, intent to practise what is right, 

Thus won't I by the God of heav'n be bless'd, 

And win his favonr, if I do my best ? 

Good God ! (he cries) when press'd with debt and 

thrall, 
' Have patience with me and P 11 pay thee alU* 
Upon their ally their best, they're fondly mad, 
Though yet their all is naught, their best is bad. 
Proud man his can-does mightily exalts, 
Yet are his brightest works but splendid faults : 
A sinner may have shews of good, but still 
The best he can, even at his best, is ill. 
Can heaven or divine favour e'er be won 
By those that are a mass of hell and sin ? 
The righteous law does numerous woes denounce 
Against the wretched soul that fails but once : 
What heaps of curses on their heads it rears, 
That have amass'd the guilt of numerous years! 

SECTION IV. — Man's strict attachment to legal terms, 
or to the law as a condition of life. 

Say, on what terms then Heaven appeased will be ? 

Why, sure perfection is the least degree. 

Yea, more, full satisfaction must be given 

For trespass done against the laws of Heaven. 

These are the terms : what mortal back so broad, 

But must for ever sink beneath the load ? 

A ransom must be found, or die they must, 

Sure even as justice infinite is just. 

But, says the legal, proud, self-righteous heart, 

Which cannot with her ancient consort part, 

" What ! won't the goodness of the God of heaven, 

* Matt, xviii. 26. 

c3 



30 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

Admit of smalls, when greater can't be given ? 

He knows our fall diminished all our funds, 

Won't he accept of pennies now for pounds? 

Sincere endeavours for perfection take, 

Or terms more possible for mankind make ?" 

Ah ! poor divinity, and jargon loose ; 

Such hay and straw will never build a house. 

Mistake not here, proud mortal, don't mistake ; 

God changes not, nor other terms will make. 

Will divine faithfulness itself deny, 

Which swore solemnly, Man shall do, or die ? 

Will God most true extend to us, forsooth, 

His goodness, to the damage of his truth ? 

Will spotless holiness be baffled thus? 

Or awful justice be unjust for us ? 

Shall faithfulness be faithless for our sake, 

And he his threats, as we his precepts break ? 

Will our great Creator deny himself, 

And for full payment take our filthy pelf? 

Dispense with justice, to let merey vent, 

And stain his royal crown with 'minished rent ? 

Unworthy thought ! O let no mortal clod 

Hold such base notions of a glorious God. 

Heaven's holy covenant, made for human race, 

Consists, or whole of works or whole of grace. 

If works will take the field, then works must be 

For ever perfect to the last degree : 

Will God dispense with less ? Nay sure he won't 

With ragged toll his royal law affront. 

Can rags, that Sinai flames will soon despatch, 

E'er prove the fiery law's adequate match ? 

Vain man must be divorced, and choose to take 

Another husband, or a burning lake. 

We find the divine volume no where teach 
New legal terms within our mortal reach. 
Some make, though in the sacred page unknown, 
Sincerity assume perfection's throne ; 
But who will boast this base usurper's sway, J 
Save ministers of darkness, that display > 

Invented night, to stifle scripture day? ) 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 31 

The naturalist's sincerity is naught, 
That of the gracious is divinely taught ; 
Which teaching keeps their graces, if sincere, 
Within the limits of the gospel sphere, 
Where, vaunting, none created graces sing, 
Nor boast of streams, but of the Lord the spring. 
Sincerity's the soul of every grace, 
The quality of all the ransomed race, 
Of promised favour 'tis a fruit, a clause ; 
But no procuring term, no moving cause. 

How unadvised the legal mind confounds 
The marks of divine favour with the grounds, 
And qualities of covenanted friends 
With the condition of the covenant blends ? 
Thus holding gospel truths with legal arms, 
Mistakes new-covenant fruits for federal terms : 
The joyful sound no change of terms allows, 
But change of persons, or another spouse. 
The nature same that sinned must do or die, 
No milder terms in gospel-offers lie. 
For grace no other law abatement shews, 
But now law-debtors may restore its dues ; 
Restore, yea, through a Surety in their place, 
With double interest, and a better grace. 
Here we of no new terms of life are told, 
But of a husband to fulfil the old ; 
With him alone by faith we're called to wed, 
And let no rival *bruik the marriage bed. 

SECTION V, — Men's vain attempt to seek life by Christ's 
righteousness joined with their own ; and legal hopes na- 
tural to all. 

But still the bride reluctant disallows 

The junior suit, and hugs the senior spouse: 

Such the old selfish folly of her mind ; 

So bent to lick the dust, and grasp the wind* 

Alledging works and duties of her own 

May for her criminal offence atone ; 

* Enjoy, 



82 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

She will her antic dirty robe provide, 
Which vain she hopes will all pollutions hide. 
The filthy rags that saints away have flung, 
She, holding, wraps, and rolls herself in dung 5 
Thus maugre all the light the gospel gives, 
Unto her natural consort fondly cleaves. 
Though mercy set the royal match in view, 
She's loath to bid her ancient mate adieu, 
When light of scripture, reason, common sense, 
Can hardly mortify her vain pretence 
To legal righteousness. Yet if at last 
Her conscience roused begins to stand aghast ; 
Pressed with the dread of hell, she'll rashly patch, 
And halve a bargain with the proffered match y 
In hopes his help, together with her own, 
Will turn to peaceful smiles the wrathful frown. 
Through grace the rising Sun delightful sings, 
With full salvation in his golden wings, 
And righteousness complete ; the faithless soul, 
Receiving half the light, rejects the whole ; 
Revolves the sacred page, but reads purblind 
The gospel-message with the legal mind. 
Men dream their state, ah ! too, too slightly viewed, 
Needs only be amended, not renewed ; 
Scorn to be wholly debtors unto grace, 
Hopeful their works may meliorate their case. 
They fancy present prayers, and future pains 
Will for their former failings make amends : 
To legal yokes they bow their servile necks 1 

And, lest soul's slips their false repose perplex, > 
Think Jesus' merits make up all defects. ) 

They patch his glorious robe with filthy rags, 
And burn but incense to their proper drags,* 
Disdain to use his righteousness alone, J 

But as an aiding stirrup to mount their own ; > 
Thus in Christ's room his rival self enthrone ; ) 
And vainly would, dressed up in legal trim, 
Divine salvation 'tween themselves and him. 
* Hab. i. 16, 



33 



But know, vain man, that to his share must fall 

The glory of the whole, or none at all. 

In Mm all wisdom 9 s hidden treasures lie^ 

And all the fulness of the Deity. \ 

This store alone, immense and never spent, 

Might poor insolvent debtors well content ; 

But to hell prison justly Heaven will doom 

Proud fools that on their petty stock presume. 

The softest conch that gilded nature knows, 

Can give the wakened conscience no repose. 

When God arraigns, what mortal power can stand 

Beneath the terror of his lifted hand ! 

Our safety lies beyond the nat'ral line, 

Beneath a purple covert all divine. 

Yet how is precious Christ, the way, despised, 

And high the way of life by doing prized ! 

But can its votaries all its levy show ? 

They prize it most who least its burden know : 

Who by the law in part would save his soul, 

Becomes a debtor to fulfil the whole. % 

Its prisoner he remains, and without bail, 

'Till every mite be paid ; and if he fail, 

(As sure he must, since, by our sinful breach, 

Perfection far surmounts all mortal reach,) 

Then cursed for ever must his soul remain : 

And all the folk of God must say, amen.§ 

Why, seeking that the law should help afford, 

In honouring the law, he slights its Lord ; 

Who gave his law-fulfilling righteousness 

To be the naked sinner's perfect dress, 

In which he might with spotless beauty shine 

Before the face of majesty divine: 

Yet, lo ! the sinner works with mighty pains 

A garment of his own to hide his stains; 

Ungrateful, overlooks the gift of God, 

The robe wrought by his hand, dy'd in his blood. 

In vain the Son of God this web did weave, 
Could our vile rags sufficient shelter give. 

* Col. ii. 3. f Col « »• 9 - X Gal - v - 3 - § Deut - x * vii - 26 - 



34 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

In vain he every thread of it did draw, 
Could sinners be o'ermantled by the law. 
Can men's salvation on their works be built, . 
Whose fairest actions nothing are but guilt ? 
Or can the law suppress th* avenging flame, 
When now its only office is to damn ! 
Did life come by the law in part or whole, 
Bless'd Jesus died in vain to save a soul. 
Those then who life by legal means expect, 
To them is Christ become of no effect;* 
Because their legal mixtures do in fact 
Wisdom's grand project plainly counteract. 
How close proud carnal reasonings combine, 
To frustrate sovereign grace's great design ! 
Man's heart by nature weds the law alone, 
Nor will another paramour enthrone. 

True, many seem, by course of life profane, 
No favour for the law to entertain ; 
But break the bands, and cast the cords away, 
That would their raging lusts and passions stay. 
Yet even this reigning madness may declare 
How strictly wedded to the law they are ; 
For now (however rich they seemed before) 
Hopeless to pay law-debt they give it o'er, 
Like desp'rate debtors mad, still run themselves 

in more. 
Despair of success shews their strong desires, 
Till legal hopes are parched with lustful fires. 
41 Let's give," say they, " our lawless will free scope, 
And live at random, for there is no hope." j 
The law, that can't them help, they stab with hate, 
Yet scorn to beg, or court another mate. 
Here lusts most opposite their hearts divide, 
Their beastly passion and their bankrupt pride. 
In passion they their native mate deface, 
In pride disdain to be obliged to grace. 
Hence plainly as a rule 'gainst law they live, 

* Gal. ii. 21. j v. 2, 4. f Jer « xviii - l ?- 



I 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 35 

Yet closely to it as a cov'nant cleave. 
Thus legal pride lies hid beneath the patch, 
And strong aversion to the gospel- match. 



CHAPTER II. 

The manner of a sinner's divorce from the law in a work of 
humiliation, and of his marriage to the Lord Jesus 
Christ ; or the way how a sinner comes to be a believer. 

SECTION I. — Of a law-work, and the workings of legal 
pride under it. 

So proud's the bride, so backwardly disposed ; 
How then shall e'er the happy match be closed ? 
Kind grace the tumults of her heart must quell, 
And draw her heav'n-ward by the gates of hell. 
The Bridegroom's Father makes, by's Holy Sp'rit, 
His stern command with her stiff conscience meet ; 
To dash her pride, and shew her utmost need, 
Pursues for double debt with awful dread. 
He makes her former husband's frightly ghost 
Appear and damn her, as a bankrupt lost ; 
With curses, threats, and Sinai thunder-claps, 
Her lofty tower of legal boasting saps. 
These humbling storms, in high or low degrees, 
Heav'n's Majesty will measure as he please ; 
But still he makes the fiery law at least 
Pronounce its awful sentence in her breast, 
Till through the law* convict of being lost, 
She hopeless to the law gives up the ghost : 
Which now in rigour comes full debt to crave, 
And in close prison cast ; but not to save. 
For now 'tis weak, and can't (through our default) 
Its greatest votaries to life exalt. 
But well it can command with fire and flame, 
And to the lowest pit of ruin damn. 

* Gal. ii. 19. 



36 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

Thus doth it, by commission from above, 

Deal with the bride, when Heaven would court her love. 

Lo ! now she startles, at the Sinai trump, 

Which throws her soul into a dismal dump, 

Conscious another husband she must have, 

Else die for ever in destruction's grave. 

While in conviction's jail she's thus inclos'd, 

Glad news are heard, the royal Mate's propos'd. 

And now the scornful bride's inverted stir 

Is racking fear he scorns to match with her. 

She dreads his fury, and despairs that he 

Will ever wed so vile a wretch as she. 

And here the legal humour stirs again 

To her prodigious loss, and grievous pain: 

For when the Prince presents himself to be 

Her husband ; then she deems, " Ah ! is not he 

Too fair a match for such a filthy bride ?" 

Unconscious that the thought bewrays her pride, 

Ev'n pride of merit, pride of righteousness, 

Expecting Heav 5 n should love her for her dress ; 

Unmindful how the fall her face -did stain, 

And make her but a black, unlovely swain ; 

Her whole primeval beauty quite defac'd, 

And to the rank of fiends her form debas'd ; 

Without disfigur'd, and defil'd within, 

Incapable of any thing but sin. 

Heav'n courts not any for their comely face, ) 

But for the glorious praise of sov'reign grace, > 

Else ne'er had courted one of Adam's race, i 

Which all as children of corruption be 

Heirs rightful of immortal misery. 

Yet here the bride employs her foolish wit, 

For this bright match her ugly form to fit ; 

To daub her features o'er with legal paint, 

That with a grace she may herself present. 

Hopeful the Prince with credit might her wed, 

If once some comely qualities she had. 

In humble pride her haughty spirit flags ; 

She cannot think of coming all in rags. 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 37 

Were she a humble, faithful penitent, 

She dreams he'd then contract with full content. 

Base varlet ! think she'd be a match for him, 

Did she but deck herself in handsome trim. 

Ah ! foolish thoughts ! in legal deeps that plod ; 

Ah ! sorry notions of a sov'reign God ! 

Will God expose his great, his glorious Son, 

For our vile baggage to be sold and won ? 

Should sinful modesty the match decline, 

Until its garb be brisk and superfine ; 

Alas! when should we see the marriage-day? 

The happy bargain must flee up for aye. 

Presumptuous souls in surly modesty, 

Half saviours themselves would fondly be, 

Then, hopeful th' other half their due will fall, 

Disdain to be in Jesus' debt for all. 

Vainly they first would wash themselves, and then 

Address the fountain to be wash'd more clean. 

First heal themselves, and then expect the balm : 

Ah ! many slightly cure their sudden qualm. 

They heal their conscience with a tear of pray'r ; 

And seek no other Christ, but perish there. 

O sinner ! search the house, and see the thief > 

That spoils thy Saviour's crown, thy soul's relief, > 

The hid, but heinous sin of unbelief. j 

Who can possess a quality that's good, 

Till first he come to Jesus' cleansing blood ? 

The pow'r that draws the bride, will also shew 

Unto her by the way her hellish hue, 

As void of ev'ry virtue to commend, 

And full of ev'ry vice that will offend: 

Till sov'reign grace the sullen bride shall catch, 

She'll never fit herself for such a match. 

Most qualifi'd they are in heav'n to dwell, 

Who see themselves most qualifi'd for hell ; 

And, ere the bride can drink salvation's cup, 

Kind Heav'n must reach to hell and lift her up : 

For no decorum e'er about her found, 

Is she belov'd ; but on a nobler ground. 



38 0OSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

Jehovah's love is like his nature free, 

Nor must his creature challenge his decree ; 

But low at sov'reign grace's footstool creep, 

Whose ways are searchless, and his judgments deep : 

Yet Grace's suit meets with resistance rude 

From haughty souls ; for lack of innate good 

To recommend them. Thus the backward bride 

Affronts her suitor with her modest pride. 

Black hatred for his offer'd love repays, 

Pride under mask of modesty displays : 

In part would save herself; hence, saucy soul, 

Rejects the matchless Mate would save in whole. 

SECTION II. — Conviction of sin and wrath, carried o: 
more deeply and effectually on the heart. 

So proudly froward is the bride, and now 

Stern Heav'n begins to stare with cloudier brow ; 

Law-curses come with more condemning pow'r 

To scorch her conscience with a fiery show'r. 

And more refulgent flashes darted in ; 

For by the law the knowledge is of sin.* 

Black Sinai thund'ring louder than before, 

Does awful in her lofty bosom roar : 

Heav'n's furious storms now rise from ev'ry airth^ 

In ways more terrible to shake the earthy 

Till haughtiness of men be sunk thereby, 

That Christ alone may be exalted high. 

Now stable earth seems from her centre tost, 

And lofty mountain in the ocean lost ; 

Hard rocks of flint and haughty hills of pride, 

Are torn in pieces by the roaring tide. 

Each flash of new conviction's lucid rays 

Heart-errors, undiscerned till now, displays. 

Wrath's massy cloud upon the conscience breaks, 

And thus menacing Heaven, in thunder speaks : 

" Black wretch, thou madly under foot hast trod 

Th' authority of a commanding God ; 

* Rom. iii. 20. f Wind, or quarter. % Isa. ii. 17, 19. 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 39 

Thou, like thy kindred that in Adam fell, > 

Art but a law-reversing lump of hell, > 

And there by law and justice doomed to dwell." J 

Now, now, the daunted bride her state bewails, 

And downward furls her self-exalting sails ; 

With pungent fear, and piercing terror brought 

To mortify her lofty legal thought. 

Why ? The commandment comes > sin is revived* 

That lay so hid, while to the law she lived ; 

Infinite majesty in God is seen, 

And infinite malignity in sin, 

That to its expiation must amount 

A sacrifice of infinite account. 

Justice its dire severity displays, 

The law its vast dimensions open lays. 

She sees for this broad standard nothing meet, 

Save an obedience sinless and complete. 

Her cob-web righteousness, once in renown, 

Is with a happy vengeance now swept down. 

She who of daily faults could once but prate, 

Sees now her sinful, miserable state. 

Her heart 9 where once she thought some good to dwell, 

The devil's cab'net filled with trash of hell. 

Her boasted features now unmasked bare, 

Her vaunted hopes are plunged in deep despair. 

Her haunted shelter-house in by-past years 

Comes tumbling down about her frighted ears. 

Her former rotten faith, love, penitence, 

She sees a bowing wall, and tott' ring fence. 

Excellencies of thought, and word, and deed, 

All swimming, drowning in a sea of dread, 

Her beauty now deformity she deems ; 

Her heart, much blacker than the devil's seems ; 

With ready lips she can herself declare 

The vilest ever breathed in vital air. 

Her former hopes, as refuges of lies, 

Are swept away, and all her boasting dies. 

She once imagined Heaven would be unjust 

* Rom. vii, 9. 



40 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

To damn so many lumps of human dust, 

Formed by himself; but now she owns it true, 

Damnation surely is the sinner's due : 

Yea, now applauds the law's just doom so well, 

That justly she condemns herself to hell ; 

Does herein divine equity acquit, 

Herself adjudging* to the lowest pit. 

Her language, " Oh ! if God condemn, I must 

From bottom of my soul declare him just ; 

But if his great salvation me embrace, 

How loudly will I sing surprising grace! 

If from the pit he to the throne me raise, 

111 rival angels in his endless praise : 

If, hell-deserving, me to heaven he bring, 

No heart so glad, no tongue so loud shall sing. 

If wisdom has not laid the saving plan, 

I nothing have to claim, I nothing can. 

My works but sin, my merit death I see ; 

Oh ! mercy, mercy, mercy, pity me !" 

Thus all self-justifying pleas are dropped, 

Most guilty she becomes — her mouth is stopped. 

Pungent remorse does her past conduct blame, 

And flush her conscious cheek with spreading shame. 

Her self-conceited heart is self-convict, 

With barbed arrows of compunction pricked : 

Wonders how justice spares her vital breath, 

How patient Heaven adjourns the day of wrath ; 

How pliant earth does not with open jaws 

Devour her, Korah-like, for equal cause ; 

How yawning hell, that gapes for such a prey, 

Is frustrate with a further hour's delay. 

She that could once her mighty works exalt, 

And boast devotion framed without a fault, 

Extol her nat'ral powers, — is now brought down, 

Her former madness, not her powers, to own; 

Her present beggared state, most void of grace, 

Unable even to wail her woful case, 

Quite powerless to believe, repent, or pray : 

Thus pride of duties flies and dies away. 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 41 

She, like a hardened wretch, a stupid stone, 
Lies in the dust, and cries, Undone, undone I 

SECTION III — The deeply humbled soul relieved with 
some saving discoveries of Christ the Redeemer. 

When thus the wounded bride perceives full well, 

Herself the vilest sinner out of hell, 

The blackest monster in the universe ; 

Pensive, if clouds of wo shall e'er disperse ; 

When in her breast Heaven's wrath so fiercely glows, 

'Twixt fear and guilt, her bones have no repose. 

When flowing billows of amazing dread 

Swell to a deluge o'er her sinking head ; 

When nothing in her heart is found to dwell, 

But horrid Atheism, enmity, and hell ; 

When endless death and ruin seems at hand, 

And yet she cannot, for her soul, command 

A sigh to ease it, or a gracious thought, 

Though heaven could at this petty rate be bought; 

When darkness and confusion overcloud, 

And unto black despair temptations crowd ; 

When wholly without strength to move or stir, 

And not a star by night appears to her: 

But she, while to the brim her troubles flow, 

Stands, trembling, on the utmost brink of woe. 

Ah! weary case! But, lo ! in this sad plight, 
The sun arises with surprising light. 
The darkest midnight is his usual time 
Of rising, and appearing in his prime. 
To shew the hills from whence salvation springs, 
And chase the gloomy shade with golden wings, 
The glorious husband now unveils his face, 
And shews his glory full of truth and grace .•* 
Presents unto the bride, in that dark hour, 
Himself a Saviour, both by price and power : 
A mighty Helper to redeem the lost, 
Relieve and ransom to the uttermost ; f 

* John i. 14. t Heb - vii - 25- 

D 



42 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART 

To seek the vagrant sheep to deserts driven. 
And save from lowest hell to highest heaven. 
Her doleful case he sees, his bowels move, 
And make her time of need his time of love ; * 
He shews, to prove himself her mighty shield. 
His name is JESUS, by his Father sealed: f 
A name with attributes engraved within, 
To save from every attribute of sin. 
With wisdom sin's great folly to expose, 
And righteousness its chain of guilt to loose, 
Sanctification to subdue its swat/, 
Redemption all its woful brood to slay. J 
Each golden letter of his glorious name 
Bears full deliverance both from sin and shame. 
Yea not privation bare from sin and woe, ) 
But thenee all positive salvations flow, > 

To make her wise, just, holy, happy too. ) 
He now appears a match exactly meet 
To make her every way in him complete, 
In whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells, \ 
That she may boast in him, and nothing else. 
In gospel lines she now perceives the dawn 
Of Jesus' love, with bloody pencil drawn; 
How God in him is infinitely pleased, 
And Heaven-avenging fury wholly appeased t 
Law-precepts magnified by her beloved, 
And every let to stop the match removed, 
Now in her view her prison gates break ope, 
Wide to the wall flies up the door of hope ; 
And now she sees with pleasure unexpressed 
For shattered barks a happy shore of rest. 



SECTION IV The working of the Spirit of faith, in se- 
parating the heart from all self-righteousness, and drawing 
out its consent to y and desire after Christ alone and wholly,. 

The bride at Sinai little understood 

How these law-humblings were designed for good, 

T' enhance the value of her Husband's blood. 

• Ezek. xvi. 6,8. f Matt - i. 21. % 1 Cor i. 30. 

|| Col. ii. 9, 10. 



■■! 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 43 

The tow'r of toti'ring pride thus batter'd down, 
Makes way for Christ alone to wear the crown. 
Conviction's arrows pierc'd her heart, that so 
The blood from his pierc'd heart, to her's might flow. 
The law's sharp plough tears up the fallow ground, 
Where not a grain of grace was to be found, 
Till straight perhaps behind the plough is sown 
The hidden seed of faith, as yet unknown. 
Hence now the once reluctant bride's inclined 
To give the gospel an assenting mind, 
Dispos'd to take, would grace the pow'r impart, 
Heav'n's offer with a free consenting heart. 
His Spirit in the gospel-chariot rides, i 

And shews his loving heart to draw the bride's ; > 
Though oft in clouds his drawing pow'r he hides. J 
His love in gracious offers to her bears, 
In kindly answers to her doubts and fears, 
Resolving all objections more or less 
From former sins, or present worthlessness. 
Persuades her mind of's conjugal consent, 
And then impow'rs her heart to say, Content. 
Content to be divorced from the law, 
No more the yoke of legal terms to draw ; 
Content that he dissolve the former match, 
And to himself alone her heart attach ; 
Content to join with Christ at any rate, 
And wed him as her everlasting mate ; 
Content that he should ever wear the bays, 
And of her whole salvation have the praise ; 
Content that he should rise, though she should fall, 
And to be nothing, that he may be all ; 
Content that he, because she nought could do, 
Do for her all her work, and in her too. 
Here she a peremptory mind displays, 
That he do all the work, get all the praise. 
And now she is, which ne'er till now took place, 
Content entirely to be sav'd by grace. 
She owns that her damnation just would be, 
And therefore her salvation must be free : 

d2 



44 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART X. 

That nothing being hers but sin and thrall, 
She must be debtor unto grace for all. 

Hence comes she to him in her naked case, . 
To be invested with his righteousness. 
She comes, as guilty,, to a pardon free ; 
As vile and filthy , to a cleansing sea ; 
As poor and empty, to the richest stock ; 
As weak and feeble to the strongest rocks 
As perishing, unto a shield from thrall ; 
As worse than nothing, to an all in all. 
She, as a blinded mole, an ign'rant fool, 
Comes for instruction to the Prophet's school. 
She, with a hell-deserving conscious breast, 
Flies for atonement to the worthy Priest. 
She as a slave to sin and Satan, wings 
Her flight for help unto the King of kings. 
She all her maladies and plagues brings forth 
To this Physician of eternal worth. 
She spreads before his throne her filthy sore j 
And lays her broken bones down at his door. 
No mite she has to buy a crumb of bliss, 
And therefore comes impoverished as she is ; 
By sin and Satan, of all good bereft, 
Comes e'en as bare as they her soul have left. 
To sense, as free of holiness within, 
As Christ, the spotless Lamb, was free of sin. 
She comes by faith, true ; but it shews her want, 
And brings her as a sinner, not a saint ; 
A wretched sinner, flying for her good 
To justifying, sanctifying blood. 

Strong faith no strength nor power of acting vaunta, 
But acts in sense of weakness and of wants. 
Drain'd now of every thing that men may call 
Terms and conditions of relief from thrall ; 
Except this one, that Jesus be her all. 
When to the bride he gives espousing faith, 
It finds her under sin, and guilt, and wrath, 
And makes her as a plagued wretch to fall 
At Jesus' footstool for the cure of all. 
Her whole salvation now in him she seeks, 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 4& 

And musing thus perhaps in secret speaks : 
" Lot all my burdens may in him be eased ; 

The justice I offended he has pleased ; 

The bliss that I have forfeit he procured ; 

The curse that I deserved he endured ; 

The law that I have broken he obeyed ; 

The debt that I contracted he has paid ; 

And though a match unfit for him I be, 

I find him every way most fit for me. 

" Sweet Lord, I think, would thou thyself impart, 

I'd welcome thee with open hand and heart. 

But thou that sav'st by price, must save by power ; 

O send thy Spirit in a fiery shower, 

This cold and frozen heart of mine to thaw, 

That nought, save cords of burning love, can draw. 

draw me, Lord, then will I run to thee, 
And glad into thy glowing bosom flee. 

1 own myself a mass of sin and hell, 
A brat that can do nothing but rebel : 
But didst thou not, as sacred pages shew,* 
When rising up to spoil the hellish crew, 
That had by thousands, sinners captive made, 
And hadst in conqu'ring chains them captive led, 
Get donatives, not for thy proper gain, 

But royal bounties for rebellious men, 

Gifts, graces, and the Spirit without bounds, 

For God's new house with man on firmer grounds ? 

O then let me a rebel now come speed, 

Thy Holy Spirit is the gift I need. 

His precious graces too, the glorious grant, 

Thou kindly promis'd and I greatly want. 

Thou art exalted to the highest place, 

To give repentance forth, and evWy graced 

O giver of spiritual life and breath, 

The author and the finisher of faith \% 

Thou husband-like must ev'ry thing provide, 

If e'er the like of me become thy bride." 

* Psalm xviii. 18. f Acts v - 31 - X Heb * xii. 2. 

p3 



46 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

SECTION V. — Faith's view of the freedom of grace, cor- 
dial renunciation of all its own ragged righteousness, and 
formal acceptance of and closing with the person of glorious 
Christ . 

The bride with open eyes, that onee were dim ? 
Sees now her whole salvation lies in him ; 
The Prince, who is not in dispensing nice, 
But freely gives without her pains or price* 
This magnifies the wonder in her eye, 
Who not a farthing has wherewith to buy ? 
For now her humbled mind can disavow 
Her boasted beauty and assuming brow ; 
With conscious eye discern her emptiness> 
With candid lips her poverty confess. 
" O glory to the Lord that grace is free^ 
Else never could it light on guilty me. 
I nothing have with me to be its price, 
But hellish blackness, enmity, and vice." 
In former times she durst presuming come 
To grace's market with a petty sum 
Of duties, prayers, tears, a boasted set, 
Expecting Heaven would thus be in her debt. 
These were the price ; at least she did suppose 
She'd be the welcomer because of those : 
But now she sees the vileness of her vogue, 
The dung that close doth every duty clog ; 
The sin that doth her holiness reprove, 
The enmity that close attends her love ; 
The great heart-hardness of her penitence, 
The stupid dulness of her vaunted sense ; 
The unbelief of former blazed faith, 
The utter nothingness of all she hath. 
The blackness of her beauty she can see ? 
The pompous pride of strain'd humility, 
The naughtiness of all her tears and pray'rs, 
And now renounces all as worthless wares ; 
And finding nothing to commend herself, 
But what might damn her, her embezzled pelf ; 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 47 

At sov'reign Grace's feet doth prostrate fall, 

Content to be in Jesus' debt for all. 

Her noised virtues vanish out of sight, 

As starry tapers at meridian light ; 

While sweetly, humbly, she beholds at length 

Christ, as her only righteousness and strength. 

He with the view throws down his loving dart, 

Imprest with pow'r into her tender heart. 

The deeper that the law's fierce dart was thrown, 

The deeper now the dart of love goes down : 

Hence, sweetly pain'd, her cries to heaven do flee ; 

" O none but Jesus, none but Christ for me : 
O glorious Christ, O beauty, beauty rare, 
Ten thousand thousand heav'ns are not so fair. 
In him at once all beauties meet and shine, 
The white and ruddy, human and divine. 
As in his low, he's in his high abode, 
The brightest image of the unseen God.* 
How justly do the harpers sing above, 
His doing, dying, rising, reigning love ! 
How justly does he, when his work is done, 
Possess the centre of his Father's throne ! 
How justly does his awful throne before 
Seraphic armies prostrate him adore, 
That's both by nature and donation crown'd 
With all the grandeur of the Godhead round ! 

" But wilt thou, Lord, in very deed come dwell 
With me that was a burning brand of hell ? 
With me so justly reckon'd worse and less 
Than insect, mite, or atom can express ? 
Wilt thou debase thy high imperial form, 
To match with such a mortal crawling worm ? 
Yea, sure thine errand to our earthly coast, 
Was in deep love to seek and save the lost ;f 
And since thou deign'st the like of me to wed, 
O come and make my heart thy marriage-bed. 
Fair Jesus, wilt thou marry filthy me ? 
Amen, Amen, Amen ; so let it be." 

* Heb. i. 2. f Luke xix. 10, 



48 GOSPEL SONNETS* [PART I. 

CHAPTER III. 

The Fruits of the Believer's Marriage with Christ, parti- 
cularly gospel holiness, and obedience to the law as a rule. 

SECTION I. — The sweet solemnity of the marriage now 
over, and the sad effects of the remains of a legal spirit. 

The match is made, with little din 'tis done* 
But with great pow'r, unequal prizes won. 
The Lamb has fairly won his worthless bride ; 
She her great Lord, and all his store beside. 
He made the poorest bargain, though most wise ; 
And she* the fool, has won the worthy prize. 

Deep floods of everlasting love and grace, 
That under ground ran an eternal space, 
Now rise aloft 'bove banks of sin and hell, 
And o'er the tops of massy mountains swell. 
In streams of blood are tow'rs of guilt o'erflown, 
Down with the rapid purple current thrown. 

The bride now as her all can Jesus own, 
And prostrate at his footstool cast her crown,, 
Disclaiming all her former groundless hope, 
While in the dark her soul did weary grope* 
Down tumble all the hills of self-conceit, 
In him alone she sees herself complete ; 
Does bis fair person with fond arms embrace? 
And all her hopes on his full merit place ; 
Discard her former mate, and henceforth draw 
No hope, no expectation from the law. 

Though thus her new-created nature soars, 
And lives aloft on Jesus' heav'nly stores ; 
Yet apt to stray, her old adult'rous heart 
Oft takes her old renounced husband's part* 
A legal cov'nant is so deep ingrain'd, 
Upon the human nature, laps'd and stain'd, 
That, till her spirit mount the purest clime 
She's never totally divorced in time. 
Hid in her corrupt part's proud bosom lurks 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 49 

Some hope of life still by the law of works. 

Hence flow the following evils more or less ; ) 
Preferring oft her partial holy dress, > 

Before her husband's perfect righteousness. } 

Hence joying more in grace already giv'n 
Than in her Head and stock that's all in heav'n. 
Hence grieving more the want of frames and grace, 
Than of himself the spring of all solace. 

Hence guilt her soul imprisons, lusts prevail, \ 

While to the law her rents insolvent fail, > 

And yet her faithless heart rejects her Husband's bail. ) 

Hence soul disorders rise, and racking fears, 
While doubtful of his clearing past arrears ; 
Vain dreaming, since her own obedience fails, 
His likewise little for her help avails. 

Hence duties are a task, while all in view 
Is heavy yokes of laws, or old or new : 
Whereas, were once her legal bias broke, 
She'd find her Lord's commands an easy yoke. 
No galling precepts on her neck he lays, 
Nor any debt demands, save what he pays 
By promis'd aid ; but, lo ! the grievous law, 
Demanding brick, won't aid her with a straw. 

Hence also fretful, grudging, discontent, } 
Crav'd by the law, finding her treasure spent, > 
And doubting if her Lord will pay the rent. ) 
Hence pride of duties too does often swell, 
Presuming she perform'd so very well. 

Hence pride of graces and inherent worth 
Springs from her corrupt legal bias forth ; 
And boasting more a present with'ring frame, 
Than her exalted Lord's unfading name. 

Hence many falls and plunges in the mire, 
As many new conversions do require : 
Because her faithless heart sad follies breed, 
Much lewd departure from her living Head, 
Who, to reprove her aggravated crimes, 
Leaves her abandon'd to herself at times ; 
That, falling into frightful deeps, she may 



50 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

From sad experience learn more stress to lay, 
Not on her native efforts, but at length 
On Christ alone, her righteousness and strength : 
Conscious, while in her works she seeks repose, 
Her legal spirit breeds her many woes. 

SECTION II — Faith's victories over sin and Satan, through 
new and farther discoveries of Christ, making believers 
more fruitful in holiness than all other pretenders to works. 

The gospel-path leads heav'n-ward ; hence the fray, 

Hell's pow'rs still push the bride the legal way. 

So hot the war, her life's a troubled flood, 

A field of battle, and a scene of blood. 

But he that once commenc'd the work in her, 

Whose working fingers drop the sweetest myrrh, 

Will still advance it by alluring force, 

And, from her ancient mate, more clean divorce ; 

Since 'tis her antiquated spouse, the law, 

The strength of sin and hell did on her draw. 

Piece-meal she finds hell's mighty force abate, 

By new recruits from her almighty Mate. 

Fresh armour sent from grace's magazine, 

Makes her proclaim eternal war with sin. 

The shield of faith, dipt in the Surety's blood, 

Drowns fiery darts, as in a crimson flood. 

The Captain's ruddy banner, lifted high, 

Makes hell retire, and all the furies fly. 

Yea, of his glory every recent glance 

Makes sin decay, and holiness advance. 

In kindness therefore does her heavenly Lord 

Renew'd discov'ries of his love afford, 

That her enamour'd soul may, with the view, 

Be cast into his holy mould anew. 

For when he manifests his glorious grace, 

The charming favour of his smiling face, 

Into his image fair transforms her soul,* 

And wafts her upwards to the heavenly pole, 

* 2 Cor. iii. 18. 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 51 

From glory unto glory by degrees, 

Till vision and fruition shall suffice. 

And thus in holy beauty Jesus' bride 

Shines far beyond the painted sons of pride, 

Vain merit-vouchers, and their subtle apes, 

In all their most refined, delusive shapes. 

No lawful child is ere the marriage born ; 

Though therefore virtues feigned their life adorn, 

The fruit they bear is but a spurious brood, 

Before this happy marriage be made good. 

And 'tis not strange ; for, from a corrupt tree 

No fruit divinely good produced can be, * 

But, lo ! the bride, graft in the living Root, 

Brings forth most precious aromatic fruit. 

When her new heart and her new husband meet, 

Her fruitful womb is like a heap of wheat, 

Beset with fragrant lilies round about, f ) 

All divine graces, in a comely rout, > 

Burning within, and shining bright without. J 

And thus the bride, as sacred scripture saith, 

When dead unto the law through Jesus' death, J 

And matched with him, bears to her God and Lord 

Accepted fruit, with increase pure decored. 

Freed from law-debt, and bless'd with gospel ease, 

Her work is now her dearest Lord to please, 

By living on him as her ample stock, 

And leaning to him as her potent rock. 

The fruit that each law- wedded mortal brings 

To self accresces, as from self it springs. 

So base a rise must have a base recourse, 

The stream can mount no higher than its source. 

But Jesus can his bride's sweet fruit commend, 

As brought from him the root, to him the end. 

She does by such an offspring him avow 

To be her Alpha and Omega too. 

The work and warfare he begins, he crowns, 

Though maugre various conflicts, ups and downs, 

Thus through the darksome vale she makes her way, 

Until the morning dawn of glory's day. 

* Matt. vii. 17, 18. f Cant - vii. 2. % Rom. vii. 4, 



52 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

SECTION III. — True saving faith magnifying the law both 
as a covenant and as a rule. False faith unfruitful and 
ruining. 

Proud nature may reject this gospel-theme, 

And curse it as an Antinomian scheme. 

Let slander bark, let envy grin and fight, 

The curse that is so causeless shall not light.* 

If they that fain would make by holy force 

'Twixt sinners and the law a clean divorce, 

And court the Lamb a virgin chaste to wife, 

Be charged as foes to holiness of life, 

Well may they gladly suffer on this score, 

Apostles great were so maligned before. 

Do we make void the law through faith ? f Nay ; why, 

We do it more fulfil and magnify 

Than fiery seraphs can with holiest flash. 

Avaunt, vain legalists — unworthy trash ! 

When as a covenant stern the law commands, 
Faith puts her Lamb's obedience in its hands ; 
And when its threats gush out a fiery flood, 
Faith stops the current with her victim's blood. 
The law can crave no more, yet craves no less, 
Than active, passive, perfect righteousness. 
Yet here is all, yea, more than its demand, 
All rendered to it by a divine hand. 
Mankind is bound law-service still to pay, 
Yea, angel-kind is also bound t' obey. 
It may by human and angelic blaze 
Have honour, but in finite, partial ways. 
These natures have its lustre once defaced, 
'Twill be by part of both for aye disgraced, 
Yet had they all obsequious stood and true, 
They'd given the law no more than homage due. 
But faith gives't honour yet more great, more odd — 
The high, the humble service of its God. 

Again, to view the holy law's command, 
As lodged in a Mediator's hand ; 

* Prov. xxvi. 2. t Rom » «*• ?1. 



>™J — v — 

found, } 
wound, > 
sound. ) 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 58 

Faith gives it honour, as a rule of life, 

And makes the bride the Lamb's obedient wife. 

Due homage to the law those never did, 

To whom th' obedience pure of faith is hid. 

Faith works by love, and purifies the heart,* 

And truth advances in the inward part; 

On carnal hearts impresses divine stamps, 

And sully'd lives inverts to shining lamps. 

From Abram's seed that are most strong in faith. 

The law most honour, God most glory hath. 

But due respect to neither can be found, 

Where unbelief ne'er got a mortal 

To still the virtue- vaunter's empty 

Good works he boasts, a path he never trod 

Who is not yet the workmanship of God,"\ 

In Jesus thereunto created new ; 

Nois'd works that spring not hence are but a shew. 

True faith that's of a noble divine race, 

Is still a holy sanctifying grace ; 

And greater honour to the law does share, 

Than boasters all that breathe the vital air. 

Ev'n heathen morals vastly may outshine 

The works that flow not from a faith divine. 
Pretensions high to faith a number have, 

But, ah ! it is a faith that cannot save : 

" We trust," say they, " in Christ, we hope in God : 

Nor blush to blaze their rotten faith abroad. 
Nor try the trust of which they make a shew, 
If of a saving or a damning hue. 
They own their sins are ill ; true — but 'tis sad 
They never thought their faith and hope were bad. 
How evident's their home-bred nat'ral blaze, 
Who dream they have believ'd well all their^days ; 
Yet never felt their unbelief, nor knew ^ 

Their need of pow'r their nature to renew. 
Blind souls, who boast of faith, yet live in sin, 
May hence conclude their faith is to begin, 
Or know they shall, by such an airy faith, 
* Gal. v. 6. f E ph- m- ] °. 



54 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART 

Believe themselves to everlasting wrath. 

Faith, that nor leads to good, nor keeps from ill, 

Will never lead to heaven, nor keep from hell, 

The body without breath is dead ;* no less 

Is faith without the works of holiness.f 

How rare is saving faith, when earth is cramm'd 

With such as we believe, and yet be damn'd ; 

Believe the gospel, yet with dread and awe 

Have never truly first believ'd the law. 

That matters shall be well, they hope too soon 

Who never yet have seen they were undone. 

Can of salvation their belief be true, 

Who never yet believ'd damnation due ? 

Can these of endless life have solid faith 

Who never fear'd law threats of endless death ? 

Nay, sail'd they han't yet to the healing shore, 

Who never felt their sinful, woful sore. 

Imaginary faith is but a blind 
Which bears no fruit but of a deadly kind : 
Nor can from such a wild unwholesome root 
The least production rise of living fruit. 
But saving faith can such an offspring breed, 
Her native product is a holy seed. 
The fairest issues of the vital breath 
Spring from the fertile womb of Heav'n-born faith ; 
Yet boasts she nothing of her own, but brings 
Auxiliaries from the King of kings, 
Who graves his royal law on rocky hearts, 
And gracious aid in soft'ning showers imparts, 
This gives prolific virtue to the faith 
Inspired at first by his almighty breath, 
Hence, fetching all her succours from abroad, 
She still employs this mighty pow'r of God. 
Drain'd clean of native pow'rs and legal aims, 
No strength but in and from Jehovah claims ; 
And thus her service to the law o'ertops 
The tow'ring zeal of Pharisaic fops. 

* James ii. 26. f James ii. 17. 10. 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 55 

SECTION IV. — The Believer only being married to Christ, 
is justified and sanctified : and the more gospel freedom 
from the law as a covenant, the more holy conformity to it 
as a rule. 

Thus doth the Husband by his Father's will 
Both for, and in, his bride the law fulfil : 
For her, as 'tis a covenant ; and then 
In her, as 'tis a rule of life to men. 
First, all law-debt he most completely pays, 
Then of law duties all the charge defrays. 
Does first assume her guilt, and loose her chains, 
And then with living water wash her stains ; 
Her fund restore, and then her form repair, 
And make his filthy bride a beauty fair; 
His perfect righteousness most freely grant. 
And then his holy image deep implant ; 
Into her heart his precious seed indrop, 
Which, in his time, will yield a glorious crop. 
But by alternate turns his plants he brings 
Through robbing winters and repairing springs. 
Hence, pining oft, they suffer'd sad decays, 
By dint of shady nights and stormy days. 
But blest with sap, and influence from above, 
They live and grow anew in faith and love ; 
Until transplanted to the higher soil. 
While furies tread no more, nor foxes spoil. 
Where Christ the living root remains on high, 
The noble plant of grace can never die ; 
Nature decays, and so will all the fruit 
That merely rises on a mortal root. 
Their works, however splendid, are but dead, 
That from a living fountain don't proceed ; 
Their fairest fruit is but a varnish'd shrine, 
That are not grafted in the glorious Vine. 
«r4>evoutest hypocrites are rank'd in rolls 
Of painted puppets, not of living souls. 

No offspring but of Christ's fair bride is good, 
This happy marriage has a holy brood. 






56 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

Let sinners learn this mystery to read, 

We bear to glorious Christ no precious seed, 

Till through the law, we to the law be dead/ 

No true obedience to the law, but forc'd, 

Can any yield, till from the law divorc'd. 

Nor to it, as a rule is homage giv'n, 

TxWfrom it, as a covenant, men be driv'n. 

Yea more, till once they this divorce attain, 

Divorce from sin they but attempt in vain ; 

The cursed yoke of sin they basely draw, 

Till once unyoked from the cursed law. 

Sin's full dominion keeps its native place, 

While men are under law, not under grace, f 

For mighty hills of enmity won't move, 

Till touch'd by conqu'ring grace and mighty love. 

Were but the gospel-secret understood ; 
How God can pardon where he sees no good ; 
How grace and mercy free, that can't be bought, 
Reign through a righteousness already wrought: 
Where woful reigning unbelief deposed, 
Mysterious grace to blinded minds disclosed : 
Did Heaven with gospel-news its power convey, 
And sinners hear a faithful God but say, 
" No more law~dt*bt remains for you to pay ; 
Lo ! by the loving Surety, all's discharged," 
Their hearts behoved with love to be enlarged : 
Love, the succinct fulfilling of the law,\ 
Were then the easy yoke they'd sweetly draw ; 
Love would constrain and to his service move 
Who left them nothing else to do but love. 
Slight now his loving precepts if they can ; 
No, no ; his conquering kindness leads the van. 
When everlasting love exerts the sway, 
They judge themselves more kindly bound t'obey, 
Bound by redeeming love in stricter sense 
Than ever Adam was in innocence. 
Why now they are not bound, as formerly, 
To do and live, nor yet to do or die ; 
Both life and death are put to Jesus' hands, 

* Gal. ii. 19. f Rom - vi » 14 « X R o m xi »- 10 - 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 57 

Who urges neither in his kind commands, 

Not servile work their life and heaven to win, 

Nor slavish labour death and hell to shun. 

Their aims are purer, since they understood, 

Their heaven was bought, their hell was quenched 

with blood. 
The oars of gospel -service now they steer, 
Without or legal hope or slavish fear. 

The bride in sweet security can dwell, 
Nor bound to purchase heaven nor vanquish hell : 
But bound for him the race of love to run, 
Whose love to her left none of these undone ; 
She's bound to be the Lamb's obedient wife, 
And in his strength to serve him during life j 
To glorify his loving name for aye, 
Who left her not a single mite to pay 
Of legal debt, but wrote for her at large, 
In characters of blood, a full discharge. 
Henceforth no servile task her labours prove, 
But grateful fruits of reverential love. 

SECTION V. — Gospel-grace giving no liberty nor freedom 
to sin, but to holy service and pure obedience. 

The glorious husband's love can't lead the wife 

To whoredom or licentiousness of life : 

Nay, nay ; she finds his warmest love within 

The hottest fire to melt her heart for sin. 

His kind embrace is still the strongest cord 

To bind her to the service of her Lord. 

The more her faith insures this love of his, 

The more his law her delectation is. 

Some dream, they might, who his assurance win, 

Take latitude and liberty to sin. 

Ah I such bewray their ignorance, and prove ) 

They want the lively sense of drawing love ; > 

And how its sweet constraining force can move. j 

The ark of grace came never into dwell, 

But Dagon-lusts before it headlong fell 



58 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

Men basely can unto laseiviousness 

Abuse the doctrine, not the work of grace. 

Huggers of divine love in vice's path, 

Have but the fancy of it, not the faith. 

They never soared aloft on grace's wing, 

They knew not grace to be a holy thing : 

When pregnant she the powers of hell appals, 

And sin's dominion in the ruin falls. 

Cursed is the crew whose Antinomian dress 

Makes grace a cover to their idleness. 

The bride of Christ will sure be very loth 

To make his love a pillow for her sloth. 

Why may'nt she sin the more that grace abounds? 

Oh, God forbid ! the very thought confounds. 

When dead unto the law, she's dead to sin ; 

How can she any longer live therein ?* 

To neither of them is she now a slave, 

But shares the conquest of the great, the brave, 

The mighty General, her victorious Head, 

Who broke the double chain to free the bride. 

Hence, prompted now with gratitude and love, 

Her cheerful feet in swift obedience move. 

More strong the cords of love to duty draw, 

Than hell, and all the curses of the law. 

When with seraphic love the breast's inspired, 

By that are all the other graces fired ; 

These kindling round, the burning heart and frame, 

In life and walk send forth a holy flame. 



CHAPTER IV. 

A Caution to all against a legal spirit ; especially to those 
that have a profession without power, and learning without 
grace. 

" Why," says the haughty heart of legalists, 
Bound to the law of works by nal'ral twists, 

* Rom. vi. 1, 2. 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 59 

« Why such ado about a law-divorce? 

Men's lives are bad, and would you have them worse ? 

Such Antinomian stuff, with laboured toil, 

Would human beauty's native lustre spoil. 

What wickedness beneath the cov'ring lurks, 

That lewdly would divorce us all from works ! 

Why such a stir about the law and grace? 

We know that merit cannot now take place ; 

And what needs more?" Well, to let slander drop, 

Be merit for a little here the scope. 

Ah ! many learn to lisp in gospel-terms, 
Who yet embrace the law with legal arms. 
By wholesome education some are taught 
To own that human merit now is naught ; 
Who faintly but renounce proud merit's name, 
And cleave refinedly to the popish scheme. 
For graceful works expecting divine bliss, 
And, when they fail, trust Christ for what's amiss, 
Thus to his righteousness profess to flee, 
Yet by it still would their own saviours be. 
They seem to works of merit bloody foes, 
Yet seek salvation as it were * by those. 
Blind Gentiles found, who did not seek nor know : 
But Israel lost it whole, who sought it so. 

Let all that love to wear the legal dress, 
Know that as sin, so bastard righteousness 
Has slain its thousands, who in tow'ring pride 
The righteousness of Jesus Christ deride ; 
A robe divinely wrought, divinely won, 
Yet cast by men for robes that are their own. 
By some to legal works seem whole denied, 
Yet would by gospel- works be justified, 
By faith, repentance, love, and other such : \ 
These dreamers being righteous over much > 
Like Uzzah, give the ark a wrongful touch. ) 
By legal deeds, however gospel ized, 
Can e'er tremendous justice be appeased, 
Or sinners justified before that God, 
* Rom. ix. 32. 
e2 



60 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

Whose law is perfect, and exceeding broad ? 
JNay, faith itself, that leading gospel-grace, 
Holds as a work no justifying place. 
Just Heaven to man for righteousness imputes 
Not faith itself, or in its acts or fruits \ 
But Jesus' meritorious life and death, 
Faith's proper object all the honour hath. 
From this doth faith derive its glorious fame, 
Its great renown and justifying name; 
Receiving all things, but deserving nought ; 
By faith all's begg'd and taken, nothing bought* 
Its highest name is from the wedding vote, 
So instrumental in the marriage knot. 
Jehovah leads the bride in that blest hour, 
Th' exceeding greatness of his mighty power ; * 
Which sweetly does her heart-consent command, 
To reach the wealthy Prince her naked hand. 
For close to his embrace she'd never stir, 
If first his loving arms embraced not her : 
But this he does by kindly gradual chase, 
Of rousing, raising, teaching, drawing grace, 
He shows her, in his sweetest love address, 
His glory as the Sun of righteousness ; 
At which all dying glories earth adorn, 
Shrink like the sick moon at the wholesome morn. 
This glorious Sun arising with a grace, 
Dark shades of creature-righteousness to chase, 
Faith now disclaims itself, and all the train 
Of virtues formerly accounted gain ; 
And counts them dung,\ with holy, meek disdain 
For now appears the height, the depth immense 
Of divine bounty and benevolence ; 
Amazing mercy ! ignorant of bounds ! 
Which most enlarged faculties confounds. 
How vain, how void now seem the vulgar charms, 
The monarch's pomp of courts, and pride of arms — 
The boasted beauties of the human kind, 
The powers of body and the gifts of mind ! 
* Epb. i. 19. f Phil. iii. 7, 8. 



j 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 61 

Lo ! in the grandeur of Immanuel's train, 
All's swallowed up as rivers in the main. 
He's seen, when gospel light and sight is given 
Encompassed round with all the pomp of heaven. 

The soul, now taught of God, sees human schools 
Make Christless rabbis only literate fools; 
And that, till divine teaching powerful draw, 
No learning will divorce them from the law. 
Mere argument may clear the head, and force 
A verbal, not a cordial, clean divorce. 
Hence many, taught the wholesome terms of art, 
Have gospel heads, but still a legal heart. 
Till sovereign grace and power the sinner catch, 
He takes not Jesus for his only match. 
Nay, works compete ! ah ! true, however odd, 
Dead works are rivals with the living God. 
Till heaven's preventing mercy clear the sight, 
Confound the pride with supernat'ral light : 
No haughty soul of human kind is brought 
To mortify her self-exalting thought* 

Yet holiest creatures in clay-tents that lodge, 
Be but their lives scanned by the dreadful Judge ; 
How shall they e'er his awful search endure, 
Before whose purest eyes heaven is not pure? 
How must their black indictment be enlarged, 
When by him angels are with folly charged? 
What human worth shall stand, when he shall scan ? 
O may his glory stain the pride of man. 

How pond'rous are the tracks of divine grace ! 
How searchless are his ways, how vast th' abyss ! 
Let haughty reason stoop, and fear to leap ; 
Angelic plummets cannot sound the deep. 
With scorn he turns his eyes from haughty kings, 
With pleasure looks on low and worthless things ; 
Deep are his judgments, sovereign is bis will, 
Let every mortal worm be dumb, be still. 
In vain proud reason swells beyond its bound ; 
God and his counsels are a gulf profound, 
An ocean wherein all our thoughts are drowned. 

e3 



i 



62 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

CHAPTER V. 

Arguments and encouragements to Gospel Ministers to 
avoid a legal strain of doctrine, and endeavour the sinner's 
match with Christ by gospel-means. 

SECTION I — A legal Spirit the root of damnable Errors. 

Ye heralds great, that blow in name of God 

The silver trump of gospel-grace abroad ; 

And sound by warrant from the great I AM, 

The nuptial treaty with the worthy Lamb, 

Might ye but stoop th' unpolish'd muse to brook, 

And from a shrub an wholesome berry pluck ; 

Ye'd take encouragement from what is said, 1 

By gospel-means to make the marriage-bed, 

And to your glorious Lord a virgin chaste to wed. ] 

The more proud nature bears a legal sway, 
The more should preachers bend the gospel-way : 
Oft in the church arise destructive schisms 
From anti-evangelic aphorisms ; 
A legal spirit may be justly nam'd 
The fertile womb of ev'ry error damn'd. 
Hence Pop'ry, so connat'ral since the fall, 
Makes legal works like saviours merit all ; 
Yea, more than merit on their shoulder loads, 
To supererogate like demi-gods. 

Hence proud Socinians seat their reason high 
'Bove ev'ry precious gospel mystery, 
Its divine Author stab, and without fear 
The purple covert of his chariot tear. 

With these run Arian monsters in a line, 
All gospel-truth at once to undermine ! 
To darken and delete, like hellish foes, 
The brightest colour of the Sharon Rose. 
At best its human red they but decry 
That blot the divine white, the native dye. 

Hence dare Arminians too, with brazen face, 
Give man's free will the throne of God's free grace ; 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 63 

Whose self-exalting tenets clearly shew 
Great ignorance of law and gospel too. 

Hence Neonomians spring, as sundry call 
The new law-makers to redress our fall. 
The law of works, into repentance, faith, 
Is chang'd, as their Baxterian bible saith. 
Shaping the gospel to an easy law, 
They build their tott'ring house with hay and straw; 
Yet hide, like Rachel's idols in the stuff, 
Their legal hands within a gospel muff. 

Yea, hence springs Antinomian vile refuse, 
Whose gross abettors gospel grace abuse ; 
UnskilPd how grace's silken latchet binds 
Her captives to the law with willing minds. 

SECTION II. — A legal strain of doctrine discovered and 
discarded. 

No wonder Paul the legal spirit curse, 

Of fatal errors such a feeding nurse. 

He, in Jehovah's great tremendous name, 

Condemns perverters of the gospel scheme. 

He damn'd the sophist rude, the babbling priest 

Would venture to corrupt it in the least ; 

Yea, curs'd the heavenly angel down to hell 

Who, daring, would another gospel tell.* 

Which crime is charg'd on these that dare dispense 

The self-same gospel in another sense. 

Christ is not preach'd in truth but in disguise, 
If his bright glory half obscured lies. 
When gospel soldiers that divide the word, 
Scarce brandish any but the legal sword ; 
While Christ the Author of the law they press, 
More than the End of it for righteousness ; 
Christ as a Seeker of our service trace, 
More than a Giver of enabling grace ; 
The King commanding holiness they show 
More than the Prince exalted to bestow : 

* Gal. i. 7. 8. 



64 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

Yea, more on Christ the sin-revenger dwell, 
Than Christ Redeemer both from sin and hell. 

With legal spade the gospel-field he delves 
Who thus drives sinners in unto themselves ; 
Halving the truth that should be all reveal'd, 
The sweetest part of Christ is oft conceal'd. 
We bid men turn from sin, but seldom say, 
" Behold the Lamb that takes all sin away!" 
Christ, by the gospel rightly understood, 
Not only treats a peace, but makes it good. 
Those suitors therefore of the bride, who hope 
By force to drag her with the legal rope, 
Nor use the drawing cord of conqu'ring grace, 
Pursue with flaming zeal a fruitless chase ; 
In vain lame doings urge, with solemn awe, 
To bribe the fury of the fiery law : 
With equal success to the fool that aims 
By paper walls to bound devouring flames. 
The law's but mock'd by their most graceful deed, 
Who wed not first the law-fulfilling Head ; 
It values neither how they wrought nor wept 
Who slight the ark wherein alone 'tis kept. 
Yet legalists " Do, Do," with ardour press, 
And with prosperous zeal and warm address 
Would seem the greatest friends to holiness ; 
But vainly, could such opposites accord, 
Respect the law, and yet reject the Lord. 
They shew not Jesus as the way to bliss, 
But Judas like, betray him with a kiss 
Of boasted works, or mere profession puft, 
Law-boasters, proving but law-breakers oft. 

SECTION III The hurtfulness of not preaching Christ, 

and distinguishing duly between law and gospel. 

Hell cares not how crude holiness be preach'd, 
If sinners' match with Christ be never reach'd ; 
Knowing their holiness is but a sham 
Who ne'er are married to the Holy Lamb. 



i. 

ess > 
Jss; ) 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 65 

Let words have ever such a pious shew, 
And blaze aloft in rude professor's view, 
With sacred aromatics richly spiced, 
If they but drown in silence glorious Christ : 
Or, if he may some vacant room supply, 
Make him a subject only by the bye ; 
They mar true holiness with tickling chat, 
To breed a bastard Pharisaic brat. 
They wofully the gospel message broke, 
Make fearful havock of the Master's flock ; 
Yet please themselves, and the blind multitude, 
By whom the gospel's little understood. 

Rude souls perhaps imagine little odds 
Between the legal and the gospel roads: 
But vainly men attempt to blend the two ; 
They differ more than Christ and Moses do. 
Moses, evangelizing in a shade, 
By types the news of light approaching spread : 
But from the law of works by him proclaim'd, 
No ray of gospel grace or mercy gleam'd. 
By nature's light, the law to all is known, 
But lightsome news of gospel grace to none. 
The doing covenant now, in part or whole, 
Is strong to damn, but weak to save a soul. 
It hurts, and cannot help, but as it tends 
Thro' mercy to subserve some gospel ends. 
Law-thunder roughly to the gospel tames, 
The gospel mildly to the law reclaims. 
The fiery law, as 'tis a covenant, 
Schools men to see the gospel aid they want ; 
Then gospel aid does sweetly them incline 
Back to the law, as 'tis a rule divine. 
Heav'ns healing work is oft' commenc'd with wounds, 
Terror begins what loving-kindness crowns. 
Preachers may therefore press the fiery law, 
To strike the Christless man with dreadful awe. 
Law threats which for his sins to hell depress, 
Yea, damn him for his rotten righteousness ; 
That while he views the law exceeding broad, 



66 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

He fain may wed the righteousness of God. 

But, ah ! to press law- works as terms of life, 
Was ne'er the way to court the Lamb a wife. 
To urge conditions in the legal frame, 
Is to renew the vain old-covenant game. 
The law is good, when lawfully 'tis us'd,* 
But most destructive when it is abus'd. 
They set no duties in their proper sphere, 
Who duly law and gospel don't sever ; 
But under massy chains let sinners lie, 
As tributaries or to do or die ; 
Nor make the law a squaring rule of life, 
But in the gospel throat a bloody knife. 

SECTION IV Damnable Pride and Self-righteousness, 

so natural to all men, has little need to be encouraged by 
legal preaching. 

The legal path proud nature loves so well, 
(Tho' yet 'tis but the clearest road to hell,) 
That lo ! ev'n these that take the foulest ways, 
Whose lewdness no controlling bridle stays, 
If but their drowsy conscience raise its voice, 
'Twill speak the law of works their native choice, 
And echo to the rousing sound, " Ah ! true, 
I cannot hope to live, unless I DO." 
No conscious breast of mortal kind can trace 
The mystery deep of being sav'd by grace. 
Of this nor is the natural conscience skill'd, 
Nor will admit it when it is reveal'd ; 
But pushes at the gospel like a ram, 
As proxy for the law, against the Lamb. 
The proud, self-righteous, Pharisaic strain 
Is " Blest be God, I'm not like other men ; 
I read and pray, give alms, J mourn and fast ;f 
And therefore hope I'll get to heaven at last : 
For though from every sin I be not free, 
Great multitudes of men are worse than me. 

* 1 Tim. i. 8. f Luke xvi »- H. 12. 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 67 






I'm none of those that swear, cheat, drink and whore. 
Thus on the law he builds his Babel tower. 

Yea, ev'n the vilest cursed debauchee 
Will make the law of works his very plea ; 
" Why (says the rake) what take yon me to be ? 
A Turk or infidel ? you lie ! I can't 
Be term'd so base, but by a sycophant ; 
Only I hate to act the whining saint. 
I am a christian true ; and therefore bode 
It shall be well with me, I hope in God. 
An't I an honest man ? yea, I defy 
The tongue that dare assert black to mine eye." 
Perhaps, when the reprover turns his back, 
He'll vend the viler wares o's open'd pack, 
And with his fellows, in a strain more big, 
Bid damn the base uncharitable whig. 
" These scoundrel hypocrites (he'll proudly say) 
Think none shall ever merit heav'n but they, 
And yet we may compete with them ; for see, 
The best have blemishes as well as we. 
We have as good a heart (we trust) as these, 
Tho' not with vain superfluous shew and blaze. 
Bigoted zealots, whose sole crimes are hid, 
Would damn us all to hell ; but God forbid, 
Whatever such a whining sect profess, 
'Tis but a nice, morose, affected dress, 
And though we don't pretend so much as they, 
We hope to compass heav'n a shorter way : 
We seek God's mercy, and are all along 
Most free of malice, and do no man wrong. 
But whims fantastic shan't our heads annoy, 
That would our social liberties destroy. 
Sure, right religion never was designed 
To mar the native mirth of human kind. 
How weak are those that would be thought nonesuch I 
How mad, that would be righteous overmuch ! 
We have sufficient, though we be not crammed : 
We'll therefore hope the best : let them be damned !" 

Ah, horrid talk ! yet so the legal strain 



68 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

Lards even the language of the most profane. 
Thus devilish pride o'erlooks a thousand faults, 
And on a legal ground itself exalts. 
This DO and LIVE, though doing power be lost, 
In every mortal is proud nature's boast. 
How does a vain conceit of goodness swell* 
And feed false hope, amidst the shades of hell? 
Shall we, who should by gospel-methods draw, 
Send sinners to their nat'ral spouse the law; 
And harp upon the doing string to such, 
Who ignorantly dream they do so much ? 
Why, thus, instead of courting Christ a bride, 
We harden rebels in their native pride. 

Much rather ought we in God's name to place 
His great artiU'ry straight against their face ; 
And throw hot Sinai thunderbolts around, 
To burn their towering hopes down to the ground ; 
To make the pillars of their pride to shake, 
And damn their doings to the burning lake ; 
To curse the doers unto endless thrall, 
That never did continue to do all;* 
To scorch their conscience with the flaming air, 
And sink their haughty hopes in deep despair ; 
Denouncing Ebal's black revenging doom, 
To blast their expectation in the bloom ; 
Till once vain hope of life by works give place 
Unto a solid hope of life by grace. 
The vig'rous use of means is safely urged, 
When pressing calls from legal dregs are purged ; 
But most unsafely in a fed'ral dress, 
Confounding terms of life with means of grace. 
Oh ! dang'rous is th' attempt proud flesh to please, 
Or send a sinner to the law for ease ; 
Who rather needs to feel its piercing dart, 
Till dreadful pangs invade his trembling heart; 
And thither should be only sent for flames 
Of fire to burn his rotten hopes and claims ; 

* Gal. iii. 10. 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 69 

That thus disarmed, he gladly may embrace, 
And grasp with eagerness the news af grace. 

SECTION V. — The gospel of divine Grace the only means 
of converting sinners, and should be preached therefore most 
clearly , fully , and freely. 

They ought, who royal grace's heralds be, 

To trumpet loud salvation, full, and free : 

Nor safely can, to humour mortal pride, 

In silence evangelic myst'ries hide. 

What heaven is pleased to give, dare we refuse ; 

Or under ground conceal, lest men abuse ? 

Suppress the gospel-flower, upon pretence 

That some vile spiders may suck poison thence ? 

Christ is a stumbling block,* shall we neglect 

To preach him, lest the blind should break their neck ? 

That high he's for the fall of many set 

As well as for the rise,\ must prove no let. 

No grain of precious truth must be suppresst, 

Though reprobates should to their ruin wrest. 

Shall heaven's coruscant lamp be dimmed, that pays 

Its daily tribute down in golden rays, 

Because some, blinded with the blazing gleams, 

Share not the pleasure of the lightening beams : 

Let those be hardened, petrified, and harmed, 

The rest are mollified and kindly warmed. 

A various savour,J flowers in grace's field, 

Of life to some, of death to others yield. 

Must then the rose be vailed, the lily hid, 

The fragrant savour stifled ! God forbid. 

The revelation of the gospel-flower, 
Is still the organ fam'd of saving power ; 
Most justly then are legal minds condemned, 
That of the glorious gospel are ashamed : 
For this the divine arm, and only this, 
The power of God unto salvation is. 
For therein is revealed, to screen from wrath, 
The righteousness of God from faith to faith. § 

* 1 Cor. i. 23. t Luke »• 34 - t 2 Cor. ii. ]6. 

§ Rom. i. 26, 27. 



70 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

The happy change in guilty sinners' case 

They owe to free displays of sovereign grace ; 

Whose joyful tidings of amazing love 

The ministratian of the Spirit prove. 

The glorious vent the gospel-news express, 

Of God's free grace, thro' Christ's full righteousness, 

Is heaven's gay chariot where the Spirit bides, 

And in his conq'ring power triumphant rides. 

The gospel-field is still the Spirit's soil, 

The golden pipe that bears the holy oil ; 

The orb where he outshines the radiant sun, 

The silver channel where his graces run. 

Within the gospel-banks his flowing tide 

Of light'ning, quick'ning motions, sweetly glide. 

Received ye the Spirit !, scripture saith,* 

By legal works, or by the word of faith ? 

If by the gospel only, then let none 

Dare to be wiser than the wisest One. 

We must, who freely get, as freely give 
The vital word that makes the dead to live, 
For even to sinners dead within our reach 
We in his living name may most successful preach. 

The Spirit and the scripture both agree 
Jointly, (says Christ) To testify ofme.\ 
The preacher then will from his text decline 
That scorns to harmonize with this design. 
Press moral duties to the last degree; 
Why not ? but mind, lest we successless be, 
No light, no hope, no strength for duties spring, 
Where Jesus is not Prophet, Priest, and King. 
No light to see the way, unless he teach. 
No joyful hope, save in his blood we reach, 
Nor strength, unless his royal arm he stretch. 
Then from our leading scope how gross we fall, 
If, like his name, in every gospel call, 
We make not him the First, the Last, the All i 

Our office is to bear the radiant torch 
Of gospel-light into the darkened porch 

* Gal. iii. 2. f Jobn xv - 26 - T « 39 « 



1, ) 

n 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 71 

Of human understandings, and display 

The joyful dawn of everlasting day ; 

To draw the golden chariot of free grace, 

The darkened shades with shining rays to chase, 

Till heaven's bright lamp on circling wheels be hurled, 

With sparkling grandeur, round the dusky world ; 

And thus to bring, in dying mortals' sight, 

New life and immortality to light.* 

We're charged to preach the gospel, unconfined, 

To every creature f of the human kind ; 

To all, with tenders of salvation free, 

All corners of the earth to come and see : \ 

And every sinner must excuseless make, 

By urging rich and poor to come and take.§ 

Ho, every one that thirsts ,\ is grace's call 

Direct to needy sinners great and small ; 

Not meaning those alone, whose holy thirst 

Denominates their soul's already blest. 

If only those were called, then none but saints ; 

Nor would the gospel suit the sinner's wants. 

But here the call does signally import 

Sinners and thirsty souls of every sort ; 

And mainly to their door the message brings, 

Who yet are thirsting after empty things ; 

Who spend their means no living bread to buy, 

And pains for that which cannot satisfy. 

Such thirsty sinners here invited are, 

Who vainly spend their money, thought, and care, 

On passing shades, vile lusts, and trash so base, 

As yield immortal souls no true solace. 

The call directs them, as they would be blest, 

To choose a purer object of their thirst. 

All are invited by the joyful sound 

To drink who need, as does the parched ground, 

Whose wide-mouthed clefts speak to the brazen sky 

Its passive thirst, without an active cry. 






* 2 Tim. i. 10. f Mark xvi - 15 - t Isa - xlv - 22 J 

John i. 39, 46. § Rev. xxii. 17. || Isa. lv. 1, 2. 



72 GOSPEL SONNETS, [PART I. 

The gospel-preacher then, with holy skill, 
Must offer Christ to whomsoever will, 
To sinners of all sorts that can be named ; 
The blind, the lame, the poor, the halt, the maimed.* 
Not daring to restrict th* extensive call, 
But op'ning wide the net to catch them all. 
No soul must be excluded that will come, 
Nor right of access be confined to some. 
Tho' none will come till conscious of their want, 
Yet right they have to come by sovereign grant ; 
Such right to Christ, his promise, and his grace, 
That all are damned who hear and don't embrace. 
So freely is th* unbounded call dispensed, 
We therein find even sinners unconvinced ; 
Who know not they are naked, blind, and poor,f 
Counselled to buy or beg at Jesus' door, 
And take the glorious robe, eye-salve, and golden- 
store. 
This prize they are obliged by faith to win, 
Else unbelief would never be their sin. 
Yea, gospel offers but a sham we make, 
If every sinner has not right to take. 
Be gospel-heralds fortified from this, 
To trumpet grace, howe'er the serpent hiss. 
Did hell's malicious mouth in dreadful shape 
'Gainst innocence itself malignant gape? 
Then sacred truth's devoted vouchers may 
For dire reproach their measures constant lay. 
With cruel calumny of old commenced, 
This sect will every where be spoke against ; \ 
While to and fro he runs the earth across, 
Whose name is adelphon kategoros. § 
In spite of hell be then our constant strife 
To win the glorious Lamb a virgin-wife. 

* Luke xiv. 21. f ^ ev * *"• 17, 18. % Acts xxviii. 22. 
§ Or, The accuser of the brethren. 



-} 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 73 



CHAPTER VI. 

An Exhortation to all that are out of Christ, in order to 
their closing the match with him ; containing also motives 
and directions. 

Reader, into thine hands these lines are given, 

But not without the providence of Heaven ; 

Or to advance thy bliss, if thou art wise, 

Or aggravate thy woe, if thou despise. 

For thee, for thee, perhaps th' omniscient ken 

Has formed the counsel here, and led the pen. 

The writer then does thy attention plead, 

In his great name that gave thee eyes to read. 

SECTION I Conviction offered to Sinners , especia lly such 

as are wedded strictly to the law, or self-righteous^ that they 
may see the need of Christ's righteousness. 

If never yet thou didst fair Jesus wed, 
Nor yield thy heart to be his marriage bed, 
But hitherto art wedded to the law, 
Which never could thy chained affections draw 
From brutish lusts and sordid lover's charms ; 
Lo ! thou art yet in Satan's folded arms. 
Hell's power invisible thy soul retains 
His captive slave, locked up in massy chains. 
O ! sinner then, as thou regard'st thy life, 
Seek, seek, with ardent care and earnest strife, 
To be the glorious Lamb's betrothed wife. 
For base co-rivals never let him lose 
Thy heart, his bed of conjugal repose. 
Wed Christ alone, and with severe remorse 
From other mates pursue a clean divorce ; 
For they thy ruin seek by fraud or force. 
As lurking serpents in the shady bowers 
Conceal their malice under spreading flowers ; 
So thy deceitful lusts with cruel spite 
Hide ghastly danger under gay delight. 

F 



i 



i 



74 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

Art thou a legal zealot, soft or rude, 
Renounce thy nat'ral and acquired good. 
As base deceitful lusts may work thy smart. 
So may deceitful frames upon thy heart. 
Seeming good motions may in some be found ; 
Much joy in hearing, like the stony ground ; * 
Much sorrow too in praying, as appears 
In Esau's careful suit with rueful tears.f 
Touching the law, they blameless may appear^ 
From spurious views most specious virtues bear. 
Nor merely be devout in man's esteem, 
But prove to be sincerely what they seem, 
Friends to the holy law in heart and life, 
Surers of heav'n with utmost legal strife ; 
Yet still with innate pride so rankly spic'd, 
Converted but to duties, not to Christ. 
That publicans and harlots heav'n obtain^ 
Before a crew so righteous and so vain. 
Sooner will those shake off their vicious dress, 
Than these blind zealots will their righteousness. 
Who judge they have (which fortifies their pride) 
The law of God itself upon their side. 
Old nature, new-brush'd up with legal pains, 
Such strict attachment to the law retains, 
No means, no motives can to Jesus draw 
Vain souls so doubly wedded to the law. 

But wouldst the glorious Prince in marriage have ? 
Know that thy nat'ral husband cannot save. 
Thy best essays to pay the legal rent 
Can never in the least the law content. 
Didst thou in pray'rs employ the morning light, 
In tears and groans the watches of the night, 
Pass thy whole life in close devotion o'er ; 
'Tis nothing to the law still craving more. 
There's no proportion 'twixt its high commands 1 
And puny works from thy polluted hands ; > 

Perfection is the least that it demands. ) 

* Luke viii. 13. f H eb. xii. 17. % Phil. iii. 9. 

§ Matt. xxi. 31. 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 75 

Wouldst enter into life ? Then keep the law ;* 

But keep it perfectly without a flaw. 

It won't have less, nor will abate at last 

A drop of vengeance for the sin that's past. 

Tell, sinful mortal, is thy stock so large 

As duly can defray this double charge ? 

" Why, these are mere impossibles," (say'st thou) 

Yea, truly so they are, and therefore now, 

That down thy legal confidence may fall, 

The law's black doom, home to thy bosom call. 

" Lo ! I (the divine law) demand no less 

Than perfect everlasting righteonsness ; 

But thou hast fail'd, and lost thy strength to Do : 
, Therefore I doom thee to eternal wo ; 

In prison close to be shut up for aye, 

Ere I be baffled with thy partial pay. 

Thou always didst and dost my precepts break, 

I therefore curse thee to the burning lake. 

In God the great Lawgiver's glorious name, 

I judge thy soul to everlasting shame. 

No flesh can by the law be justify* d ;"f 

Yet darest thou thy legal duties plead ? 

As Paul appeal'd to Cesar, wilt thou so, ) 

Unto the law ? then to it shalt thou go, > 

And find it doom thee to eternal wo. ) 

What ! would ye have us plung'd in deep despair ? 

Amen ; yea, God himself would have you there. 

His will it is that you despair of life 
I And safety by the law, or legal strife : 

That cleanly thence divorc'd at any rate, 

His fairest Son may have a faithful mate. 

Till this law sentence pass within your breast, 

You'll never wed the law-discharging Priest. 

You prize not heav'n, till he through hell you draw ; 

Nor love the gospel, till yon know the law. 
Know then, the divine law most perfect cares 
) For none of thy imperfect legal wares ; 

Dooms thee to vengeance for thy sinful state, 

* * Matt. xxi. 17. f Rom - "i- 20 - 

f2 



76 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

As well as sinful actions small or great. 

If any sin can be accounted small, 

To hell it dooms thy soul for one and all. 

For sins of nature, practice, heart, and way, 

Damnation rent it summons thee to pay. 

Yea, not for sin alone, which is thy shame, 

But for thy boasted service too so lame, 

The law adjudges thee and hell to meet, 

Because thy righteousness is incomplete. 

As towering flames burn up the withered flags, 

So will the fiery law thy filthy rags- 

SECTION II.— Direction given, with reference to the right 
use of the means, that we rest not on these instead of Christ, 
the glorious Husband, in whom our help lies. 

ADAM, where art thou?* Soul, where art thou 

now ? 
01) ! art thou saying, Sir, what shall I do ?\ 
I dare not use that proud self-raising strain, 
" Go help yourself, and God wilt help you then." 
Nay, rather know, O Israel that thou hast 
Destroyed thyself, and can'st not in the least 
From sin nor wrath thyself the captive free, 
" Thy help (says Jesus) only lies in me."f 
Heaven's oracles direct to him alone ; 
Full help is laid upon this mighty One. 
In him, in him complete salvation dwells ; 
He's God the helper, and there is none else.§ 
Fig-leaves wont hide thee from the fiery shower, 
'Tis he alone that saves by price and power. 

"Must we do nothing then, (will mockers say,) 
But rest in sloth till Heav'n the help convey?" 
Pray, stop a little, sinner, don't abuse 
God's awful word, that charges thee to use 
Means, ordinances, which he's pleased to place, 
As precious channels of his powerful grace. 

* Gen iii. 9. f Mark x - 17 - t Hos - xiii - & 

§ Isa xiv. 22. 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 71 

Restless improve all these, until from Heaven 
The whole salvation needful thus be given. 
Wait in this path, according to his call, 
On him whose power alone effecteth all. 
Wouldst thou him wed, in duties wait, I say 5 
But marry not thy duties by the way. 
Thou'lt wofully come short of saving- grace, 
If duties only be thy resting place. 
Nay, go a little further * through them all, 
To him whose office is to save from thrall. 
Thus in a gospel-manner hopeful wait, 
Striving to enter by the narrow gate : f 
So strait and narrow, that it wont admit 
The bunch upon thy back to enter it. 
Not only bulky lusts may cease to press, 
But even the bunch of boasted righteousness. 

Many, as in the sacred page we see, 
Shall strive to enter, but unable be -: J 
Because, mistaking this new way of life, 
They push a legal, not a gospel-strife : 
As if their duties did Jehovah bind, 
Because 'tis written, Seek, and ye shall find. \ 
Perverted scripture does their error fence, 
They read the letter, but neglect the sense. 
While to the word no gospel-gloss they give, 
Their seek and find's the same with do and live. 
Hence would they a connection native place, 
Between their moral pains and saving grace : 
Their nat'ral poor essays they judge won't miss 
Injustice to infer eternal bliss. 

Thus commentaries on the word they make, 
Which to their ruin are a grand mistake: 
For through the legal bias in their breast, 
They scripture to their own destruction wrest. 
Why, if we seek we get, they gather hence : 
Which is not truth, save in the scripture-sense. 
There Jesus deals with friends, and elsewhere saith, 

* Song iii. 1, 4. f Matt. vii. 13, 14. J Luke xiii. 24, 

§ Matt. vii. 17. 

f3 



78 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

These seekers only speed, that ask in faith. * 

The prayer of the wicked is abhorred, 

As an abomination to the Lord.f 

Their suits are sins, but their neglects no less, 

Which can't their guilt diminish, but increase. 

They ought, like beggars, lie in grace's way ; 

Hence Peter taught the sorcerer to pray : J 

For though mere nat'ral men's address or prayers 

Can no acceptance gain as works of theirs, 

Nor have, as their performance, any sway ; 

Yet as a divine ordinance they may. 

But spotless truth hath bound itself to grant 

The suit of none but the believing saint. 

In Jesus, persons once accepted, do 

Acceptance find in him for duties too ; 

For He, whose Son they do in marriage take, 

Is bound to hear them for their Husband's sake* 

But let no Christless soul at prayer appear, 

As if Jehovah were obliged to hear: 

But use the means, because a sovereign God 

May come with alms, in this his wonted road. 

He wills thee to frequent kind wisdom's gate, 

To read, hear, meditate, to pray, and wait ; 

Thy spirit then be on these duties bent, 

As gospel means, but not as legal rent. 

From these don't thy salvation hope nor claim, 

But from Jehovah in the use of them. 

The beggar's spirit never was so dull, 

While waiting at the gate called Beautiful, 

To hope for succour from the temple-gate* 

At which he daily did so careful wait ; 

But from the rich and charitable sort. 

Who to the temple daily made resort. 

Means, ordinances, are the comely gate, 

At which kind Heaven has bid us constant wait t 

Not that from these we have our alms, but from 

The liberal God, who there is wont to come. 

* James i. 6. f Prov. xv. 9; xviii. 9. { Acts viiL 22. 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS- 79 

If either we these means shall dare neglect, 
Or yet from these th' enriching bliss expect, 
We from the glory of the king defalk, 
Who in the galleries is wont to walk ; 
We move not regular in duties' road, 
But base, invert them to an idol god. 
Seek then, if gospel-means you would essay, 
Through grace to use them in a gospel-way : 
Not deeming that your duties are the price 
Of divine favour, or of paradise ; 
Nor that your best efforts employed in these 
Are fit exploits your awful Judge to please, 
Why, thus you basely idolize your trash, 
And make it with the blood of Jesus clash. 
You'd buy the blessing with the vile refuse, 
And so his precious righteousness abuse. 
What ! buy his gifts with filthy lumber ? nay ; ) 
Whoever offers this must hear him say, > 

The money perish with thy soul for aye. * ) 

Duties are means, which to the marriage-bed 
Should chastely lead us like a chambermaid ; 
But if with her, instead of Christ we match, 
We not our safety but our ruin hatch. 
To Caesar what is Caesar's should be given, 
But Caesar must not have what's due to heaven ; 
So duties should have duty's room, 'tis true, 
But nothing of the glorious Husband's due. 
While means the debt of close attendance crave, 
Our whole dependence God alone must have. 
If duties, tears, or conscience pacify, 
They with the blood of Christ presume to vie. 
Means are his vassals ; shall we without grudge 
Discard the master, and espouse the drudge ? 
The hypocrite, the legalist does sin, 
To live on duties, not on Christ therein. 
He only feeds on empty dishes, plates, 
Who doats on means, but at the manna frets. 
Let never means content thy soul at all, 

* Acts viii. 20. 



80 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

Without the Husband, who is all in all. 
Cry daily for the happy marriage-hour ; 
To thee belongs the mean, to him the power. 

SECTION III — A call to believe in Jus us Christ, with 
some hints at the act and object of faith. 

Friend, is the question on thy heart engraved, 

" What shall I do to be for ever saved ?"* 

Lo here's a living rock to build upon ; 

Believe in Jesus ; f and on him alone 

For righteousness and strength thine anchor drop, 

Renouncing all thy former legal hope. 

" Believe ! (say you) I can no more believe, 

Than keep the law of works, the DO and LIVE." 

True ; and it were thy mercy, didst thou see 

Thine utter want of all ability. 

New cov'nant graces he alone can grant, 

Whom God has given to be the covenant ;J 

Even Jesus, whom the sacred letters call 

Faith's object, Author, Finisher, and all ; 

In him alone, not in thy act of faith, 

Thy soul believing full salvation hath. 

In this new cov'nant judge not faith to hold 
The room of perfect doing in the old. 
Faith is not given to be the federal price 
Of other blessings, or of paradise : 
But Heaven, by giving this, strikes out a door 
At which is carried in still more and more. 
No sinner must upon his faith lay stress, 
As if it were a perfect righteousness. 
God ne'er assigned unto it such a place ; 
'Tis but at best a bankrupt begging grace. 
Its object makes its fame to fly abroad, 
So close it gripes the righteousness of God ; 
Which righteousness received, is (without strife) 
The true condition of eternal life. 
But still, say you, power to believe I miss. 

* Acts xvi. 30. f Ver - 31. % Isa. xiii. 6. 



81 



You may ; but know you what believing is? 

Faith lies not in your building up a tower 

Of some great action by yoar proper power, 

For Heaven well knows, that by the killing fall, 

No power, no will remains in man at all 

For acts divinely good ; till sovereign grace, 

By powerful drawing virtue turn the chase. 

Hence none believe in Jesus as they ought', 1 

Till once they first believe they can do nought, > 

Nor are sufficient even to form a thought.* ) 

They're conscious in the right believing hour, 

Of human weakness, and of divine power. 

Faith acts not in the sense of strength and might.. 

But in the sense of weakness acts outright. 

It is (no boasting arm of power or length) 

But weakness acting on almighty strength .f 

It is the powerless, helpless sinner's flight 

Into the open arms of saving might: 

'Tis an employing Jesus to do all 

That can within salvation's compass fall; 

To be the agent kind in every thing 

Belonging to a prophet, priest, and king ; 

To teach, to pardon, sanctify, and save, 

And nothing to the creature's power to leave. 

Faith makes us joyfully content that he 

Our Head, our Husband, and our All should be ; 

Our righteousness and strength, our stock and store, 

Our fund for food and raiment, grace and glore. 

It makes the creature down to nothing fall, 

Content that Christ alone be all in all. 

The plan of grace is faith's delightful view, 
With which it closes, both as good and true. 
Unto the truths the mind's assent is full, 
Unto the good, a free consenting ivill, 
The Holy Spirit here the agent chief, 
Creates this faith, and dashes unbelief. 
That very God who calls as to believe, 

* 2 Cor. iii. 5. t 2 Cor. xii. 9. 



82 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

The very faith he seeks must also give. 

Why calls he then ? say you. Pray, man, be wise ; 

Why did he call dead Lazarus to rise ? 

Because the orders in their bosom bear 

Almighty power to make the carcase hear. 

But Heaven may not this mighty power display, 
Most true ; yet still thou art obliged t' obey ; 
But God is not at all obliged to stretch 
His saving arm to such a sinful wretch. 
All who within salvation-rolls have place, 
Are saved by a prerogative of grace ; 
But vessels all that shall with wrath be crammed, 
Are by an act of holy justice damned. 
Take then, dear soul, as from a friendly heart, 
The counsel which the foil' wing lines impart. 

SECTION IV. — An advice to sinners to apply to the so- 
vereign mercy of God, as is discovered through Christ, to 
the highest honour of justice, and other divine attributes, in 
order to further their faith in him unto salvation. 

Go, friend, and at Jehovah's footstool bow ; 

Thou know'st not what a sovereign God may do. 

Confess, if he commiserate thy case, 

'Twill be an act of powerful sovereign grace. 

Sequestrate carefully some solemn hours, 

To show thy grand concern in secret powers. 

Then in the ensuing strain to God impart, 

And pour into his bosom all thy heart. 

" O glorious, gracious, powerful, sovereign Lord, 

Thy help unto a sinful worm afford ; 

Who from my wretched birth to this sad hour 

Have still been destitute of will and power 

To close with glorious Christ ; yea, filled with spite ) 

At thy fair darling, and thy saints' delight, > 

Resisting all his grace with all my might. j 

Come, Lord, and sap my enmity's strong tower ; 

O haste the marriage-day, the day of power : 

That sweetly, by resistless grace inclined, 

My once reluctant be a willing mind. 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 83 

Thou spak'st to being every thing we see, 

When thy almighty will said, Let it be. 

Nothings to beings in a moment pass : 

Let there be lights thou saidst ; and so it was.* 

A powerful word like this, a mighty call, 

Must say, Let there be faith, and then it shall. 

Thou seek'st my faith and flight from sin and guilt ; 

Give what thou seek'st, Lord ; then seek what thou wilt. 

What good can issue from a root so ill ? 

This heart of mine's a wicked lump of hell ; 

'Twill all thy common motions still resist, 

Unless with special drawing virtue blest. 

Thou calls, but with the call thy power convey ; ) 

Command me to believe, and I'll obey, £ 

Nor any more thy gracious call gainsay. ) 

Command, O Lord, effectually command, ) 

And grant I be not able to withstand ; > 

Then powerless I will stretch the withered hand, j 

" I to thy favour can pretend no claim, 
But what is borrowed from thy glorious name ; 
Which though most justly thou may'st glorify, 
In damning such a guilty wretch as me, 
A faggot fitted for the burning fire 
Of thine incensed everlasting ire : 
Yet, Lord, since now I hear thy glorious Son, 
In favour of a race that was undone, 
Did in thy name, by thy authority, 
Once to the full stern justice satisfy ; 
And paid more glorious tribute thereunto 
Than hell and all its torments e'er can do. 
Since my salvation through his blood can raise ) 
A revenue to justice' highest praise, > 

Higher than rents, which hell for ever pays : j 
These to tremendous justice never bring 
A satisfaction equal and condign. 
But Jesus our once dying God performs, 
What never could by ever-dying worms : 

* Gen. i. 3. 



84 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART. I. 

Since thus thy threatening law is honoured more 

Than e'er my sins affronted it before : 

Since justice stern may greater glory win, 

By justifying in thy darling Son, 

Than by condemning even the rebel me ; 

To this device of wisdom, lo ! I flee. 

Let justice, Lord, according to thy will, 

Be glorified with glory great and full ; 

Not now in hell where justice' petty pay 

Is but extorted parcels minced for aye : 

But glorifi'd in Christ who down has told 

The total sum at once in liquid gold. 

In lowest hell low praise is only won, 

But justice has the highest in thy Son ; 

The Sun of righteousness that set in red, 

To shew the glorious morning would succeed. 

In him then save thou me from sin and shame, 

And to the highest glorify thy name. 

Since this bright scene thy glories all express, 

And grace as empress reigns through righteousness ; 

Since mercy fair runs in a crimson flood, 

And vents through justice-satisfying blood : 

Not only then for mercy's sake I sue, 

But for the glory of thy justice too. 

And since each letter of thy name divine ) 

Has in fair Jesus' face the brightest shine, > 

This glorious Husband be for ever mine. \ 

" On this strong argument so sweet, so blest, 
With thy allowance, Lord, I must insist. 
Great God, since thou allow'st unworthy me 
To make thy glorious name my humble plea ; 
No glory worthy of it wilt thou gain, 
By casting me into the burning main. 
My feeble back can never suit the load, 
That speaks thy name a sin-revenging God. 
Scarce would that name seem a consuming fire 
Upon a worm unworthy of thine ire. 
But see the worthy Lamb, thy chosen Priest, 
With justice' burning glass against his breast, 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 85 

Contracting all the beams of 'venging wrath, 
As in their centre, till he burn to death. 
Vengeance can never be so much proclam'd, 
By scatter'd beams among the millions damn'd. 
Then, Lord, in him, me to the utmost save, 
And thou shalt glory to the highest have : 
Glory to wisdom that contriv'd so well ! 
Glory to pow'r that bore and bury'd hell! 
Glory to holiness w T hich sin defaced, 
With sinless service now divinely grac'd ! 
Glory to justice' sword, that flaming stood, 
Now drunk to pleasure with atoning blood! 
Glory to truth, that now in scarlet clad, 
Has seal'd both threats and promises with red ! 
Glory to mercy, now in purple streams, ) 

So sweetly gliding through the divine flames r 
Of other once offended, now exalted names! ) 
Each attribute conspires with joint embrace, 1 

To shew its sparkling rays in Jesus' face ; > 

And thus to deck the crown of matchless grace. J 
But to thy name in hell ne'er can accrue 
The thousandth part of this great revenue. 

44 O ravishing contrivance ! light that blinds 
Cherubic gazers, and seraphic minds ! 
They pry into the deep, and love to learn 
What yet should vastly more be my concern. 
Lord, once my hope most reasonless could dream 
Of heav'n without regard to thy great name: 
But here is laid my lasting hope to found, 
A highly rational, a divine ground. 
'Tis reasonable, I expect thou'lt take 
The way that most will for thine honour make. 
Is this the plan ? Lord, let me build my claim 
To life, on this high glory of thy name. 
Nor let my faithless heart or think, or say, 
That all this glory shall be thrown away. 
In my perdition ; which will never raise 
To thy great name so vast a rent of praise. 
O then a rebel into favour take : 



86 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART I. 

Lord, shield and save me for thy glory's sake. 

My endless ruin is not worth the cost, 

That so much glory be for ever lost. 

I'll of the greatest sinner bear the shame. 

To bring the greatest honour to thy name. 

Small loss, though I should perish endless days, 

But thousand pities grace should lose the praise. 

O hear, Jehovah, get the glory then, 

And to my suplication say, Amen." 

SECTION V . — The terrible doom of unbelievers and reject- 
ers of Christ, or despisers of the gospel. 
Thus, sinner, into Jesus' bosom flee, 
Then there is hope in Isra'l sure for thee. 
Slight not the call, as running by in rhyme, 
Lest thou repent for aye, if not in time. 
'Tis most unlawful to contemn and shun 
All wholesome counsels that in metre run ; 
Since the prime fountains of the sacred writ 
Much heavenly truth in holy rhymes transmit. 
If this don't please, yet hence it is no crime 
To versify the word, and preach in rhyme. 
But in whatever mould the doctrine lies, 
Some erring minds will gospel truth despise 
Without remeid, till Heaven anoint their eyes. 
These lines pretend no conq'ring art nor skill, 
But shew in weak attempts a strong good-will 
To mortify all native legal pride, 
And court the Lamb of God a virgin bride. 
If he thy conjunct match be never given, 
Thou'rt doomed to hell as sure as God's in heaven. 
If gospel grace and goodness don't thee draw, 
Thou art condemned already by the law. 
Yea, hence damnation deep will doubly brace, 
If still thy heart contemn redeeming grace. 
No argument from fear or hope will move, 
Or draw thy heart, if not the bond of love ; 
Nor flowing joys, nor flaming terrors chase 
To Christ the haven, without the gales of grace. 



j 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 87 

O slighter, then, of grace's joyful sound, 

Thou'rt over to the wrathful ocean bound. 

Anon thou'lt sink into the gulph of woes, 

Whene'er thy wasting hours are at a close ; 

Thy false old legal hope will then be lost, 

And with thy wretched soul give up the ghost. 

Then farewell God and Christ, and grace and glore ; 

Undone thou art, undone for evermore, 

For ever sinking underneath the load 

And pressure of a sin-revenging God. 

The sacred awful text asserts, " To fall 

Into his living hands is fearful thrall ; 

When no more sacrifice for sin remains," * 

But ever-living wrath, and lasting chains: 

Heaven still upholding life in dreadful death, 

Still throwing down hot thunderbolts of wrath, 

As full of terror, and as manifold 

As finite vessels of his wrath can hold. 

" Then, then," me may suppose the wretch to cry, ) 
" Oh, if this damning God would let me die, > 

And not torment me to eternity! j 

Why from the silent womb of stupid earth, 
Did Heaven awake, and push me into birth ? 
Curs'd be the day that ever gave me life; 
Curs'd be the cruel parents, man and wife, 
Means of my being, instruments of woe ; 
For now I'm damned, and damned, and always so. 
Curs'd be the day that ever made me hear 
The gospel-call that brought salvation near, 
The endless sound of slighted mercy's bell 
Has in mine ears the most tormenting knell. 
Of offered grace I vain repent the loss, 
The joyful sound with horror recognosce. 
The hollow vault reverberates the sound ; 1 

This killing echo strikes the deepest wound, > 

And with too late remorse does now confound. } 
Into the dungeon of despair I'm locked, 
Th' once open door of hope for ever blocked ; 
* Heb. x. 29, 31. 



88 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART 

Hopeless I sink into the dark abyss, 
Banished for ever from eternal bliss. 
In boiling waves of vengeance must I lie? 
O could I curse this dreadful God and die. 
Infinite years in torment shall I spend, 
And never, never, never at an end ! 
Ah ! must I live in torturing despair, 
As many years as atoms in the air? 
When these are spent, as many thousands more 
As grains of sand that crowd the ebbing shore? 
When these are done, as many yet behind 
As leaves of forest shaken with the wind? 
When these are gone, as many to ensue 
As stems of grass on hills and dales that grew! 
When these run out, as many on the march 
As starry lamps that gild the spangled arch? 
When these expire, as many millions more 
As moments in the millions past before? 
When all these doleful years are spent in pain, 
And multiplied by myriads again, 
Till numbers drown the thought, could I suppose 
That then my wretched years were at a close, 
This would afford some ease : but, ah ! I shiver 
To think upon the dreadful sounder ever ! 
The burning gulph, where I blaspheming lie, 
Is time no more, but vast eternity. 
The growing torment I endure for sin, 
Through ages all is always to begin. 
How did I but a grain of pleasure sow, 
To reap a harvest of immortal woe? 
Bound to the bottom of the burning main, 
Gnawing my chains, I wish for death in vain. 
Just doom ! since I that bear th' eternal load 
Contemned the death of an eternal God. 
Oh ! if the God that cursed me to the lash, 
Would bless me back to nothing with a dash ! 
But hopeless I the just avenger hate, 
Blaspheme the wrathful God, and curse my fate." 
To those this word of terror I direct, 



THE BELIEVER'S ESPOUSALS. 89 

Who now the great salvation dare neglect ;* 

To all the Christ-despising multitude, 

That trample on the great Redeemer's bloods 

That see no beauty in his glorious face, 

But slight his offers, and refuse his grace, 

A messenger of wrath to none I am, 

But those that hate to wed the worthy Lamb. 

For though the smallest sins, if small can be, 

Will plunge the Christless soul in misery : 

Yet, lo ! the greatest that to mortals cleave, 

Shan't damn the souls in Jesus that believe: 

Because they on the very method fall 

That well can make amends to God for all. 

Whereas proud souls, through unbelief, won't let 

The glorious God a reparation get 

Of all his honour in his darling Son, 

For all the great dishonours they have done : 

A faithless soul the glorious God bereaves 

Of all the satisfaction that he craves ^ 

Hence under divine hottest fury lies, 

And with a double vengeance justly dies. 

The blackest part of Tophet is their place, 

Who slight the tenders of redeeming grace. 

That sacrilegious monster, Unbelief, 

So hardened 'gainst remorse and pious grief, 

Robs God of all the glory of his names, 

And every divine attribute defames. 

It loudly calls the truth of God a lie ; 

The God of truth a Uar ; f horrid cry! 

Doubts and denies his precious words of grace, 

Spits venom in the royal Suitor's face. 

This monster cannot cease all sin to hatch, 

Because it proudly mars the happy match. 

As each law- wedded soul is joined to sin, 

And destitute of holiness within ; 

So all that wed the law, must wed the curse, 

Which rent they scorn to pay with Christ's full purse. 

*Heb. ii. 3. f John v. 10. 

G 



90 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART 

They clear may read their dreadful doom in brief, 
Whose festered sore is final unbelief: 
Though to the law their life exactly framed, ) 
For zealous acts and passions too are famed : > 
Ye, lo ! He that believes not shall be damned.* j 
But now 'tis proper on the other side, 
With words of comfort to address the bride. 
She in her glorious Husband does possess 
Adorning grace, acquitting righteousness : 
And hence to her pertain the golden mines 
Of comfort opened in the foll'wing lines. 

* John iii. 18. 



GOSPEL SONNETS. 



PART II. 

THE BELIEVER'S JOINTUKE 

OR, THE 

POEM CONTINUED, 

Upon Isaiah liv. 5. Thy Maker is thy Husband. 

iV. B. — The following lines being primarily intended for the use and 
edification of piously exercised souls, and especially those of a more 
common and ordinary capacity ; the author thought fit, through the 
whole of the second part of this book, to continue, as in the former 
editions, to repeat that part of the text, Thy Husband, in the last 
line of every verse : because, however it tended to limit him, and re- 
strict his liberty of words in the composition, yet having ground to 
judge, that this appropriating appellation still resumed, has rendered 
these lines formerly the more savoury to some exercised Christians, 
to whom the name of Christ (particularly as their Head and 
Husband) is as ointment poured forth ; he chose rather to subject 
himself to that restriction, than to withhold what may tend to the 
satisfaction and comfort of those to whom Christ is all in all ; and 
to whom his name as their Husband, so many various ways applied, 
will be no nauseous repetition. 



CHAPTER L 

Containing the Privileges of the Believer that is espoused 
to Christ by faith of divine operation. 

SECTION I. — The Believer's perfect beauty, free accept- 
ance, and full security, through the imputation of Christ's 
perfect righteousness, though imparted grace be imperfect. 

O happy soul, Jehovah's bride, 
The Lamb's beloved spouse ; 
g2 



92 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

Strong consolation's flowing tide, 
Thy Husband tliee allows. 

In thee, though like thy father's race? 

By nature black as hell, 
Yet now, so beautified by grace, 

Thy Husband loves to dwell. 

Fair as the moon thy robes appear, 

While graces are in dress ; 
Clear as the su?i>* while found to wear 

Thy Husband's righteousness. 

Thy moon-like graces, changing ranch 

Have here and there a spot ; 
Thy sun-like glory is not such — 

Thy Husband changes not. 

Thy white and ruddy vesture fair 

Outvies the rosy leaf: 
For 'mong ten thousand beauties rare 

Thy Husband is the chief. 

Cloth'd with the Sun, thy robes of light 

The morning rays outshine ; 
The lamps of beav'n are not so bright, 

Thy Husband decks thee fine. 

Though hellish smoke thy duties stain, 

And sin deform thee quite ; 
Thy Surety's merit makes thee clean, 

Thy Husband's beauty white. 

Thy pray'rs and tears, nor pure nor good? 

But vile and loathsome seem : 
Yet gain, by dipping in his blood, 

Thy Husband's high esteem. 

No fear thou starve, though wants be great- 

In him thou art complete .-j" 
Thy hungry soul may hopeful wait, 

Thy Husband gives thee meat. 

* Song vi. 10. t Col. ii. 10, 



THE BELIEVER*S JOINTURE. 93 

Thy money, merit, pow'r and pelf, 

Were squander'd by thy fall ; 
Yet, having nothing in thyself, 

Thy Husband is thy all. 

Law-precepts, threats, may both beset 

To crave of thee their due : 
But justice for thy double debt 

Thy Husband did pursue. 

Though justice stern as much belong 

As mercy to a God ; 
Yet justice suffer'd here no wrong, 

Thy Husband's back was broad. 

He bore the load of wrath alone 

That mercy might take vent ; 
Heav'n's pointed arrows all upon 

Thy Husband's heart were spent. 

No partial pay could justice still, 

No farthing was retrench'd ; 
Vengeance exacted all, until 

Thy Husband all advanc'd 

He paid, in liquid golden red, 

Each mite the law requir'd, 
Till with a loud ' Tis finished,* 

Thy Husband's breath expir'd. 

No process more the law can tent ; 

Thou stand'st within its verge, 
And may'st with pleasure now present 

Thy Husband's full discharge. 

Though new contracted guilt beget 

New fears of divine ire ; 
Yet fear thou not, though drown'd in dem% 

Thy Husband is the payer. 

<Jod might in rigour thee indite 
Of highest crimes and flaws ; 

* John xix. 30, 



94 GOSPEL SONNETS [PART II. 

But on thy head no curse can light,— 
Thy Husband is the cause. 

SECTION II — Christ the believer's Friend, Prophet, 
Priest, King, Defence, Guide, Guard, Help, and Healer. 

Dear soul, when all the human race 

Lay welt'ring in their gore 
Vast numbers, in that dismal case, 

Thy Husband passed o'er. 

But pray, why did he thousands pass* 

And set his heart on thee ? 
The deep, the searchless reason was, 

Thy Husband's love is free. 

The forms of favour, names of grace, 

And offices of love 
He bears for thee, with open face 

The Husband's kindness prove. 

^Gainst darkness black, and error blind 3 

Thou hast a sun and shield ;| 
And to reveal the Father's mind, 

Thy Husband's Prophet seal'd. 

He likewise, to procure thy peace? 

And save from sin's arrest, 
Resign'd himself a sacrifice ; 

Thy Husband is thy Priest. 

And that he might thy will subject, 

And sweetly captive bring, 
Thy sins subdue, his throne erect, 

Thy Husband is thy King. 

Though numerous and assaulting foes 

Thy joyful peace may mar, 
And though a thousand battles lose ? 

Thy Husband wins the war. 

•£ Psalm lxxxiv. 11. 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 95 

Hell's forces, which thy mind appal, 

His arm can soon despatch : 
How strong soe'er, yet for them all 

Thy Husband's more than match. 

Though secret lusts, with hid contest, 

By heavy groans reveal'd, 
And devils rage ; yet do their best, 

Thy Husband keeps the field. 

When, in desertion's evening dark, 

Thy steps are apt to slide, 
His conduct seek, his counsel mark ; 

Thy Husband is thy guide. 

In doubts, renouncing self-conceit, 

His word and Spirit prize : 
He never counsell'd wrong as yet, 

Thy Husband is so wise. 

When weak, thy refuge seest at hand, 

Yet cannot run the length ; 
'Tis present pow'r to understand 

Thy Husband is thy strength. 

When shaking storms annoy thy heart, 

His word commands a calm : 
Of bleeding wounds to ease the smart, 

Thy Husband's blood is balm. 

Trust creatures, nor to help thy thrall, 

Nor to assuage thy grief: 
Use means, but look beyond them all ; 

Thy Husband's thy relief. 

If Heaven prescribes a bitter drug, 

Fret not with froward will ; 
This carriage may thy cure prorogue; 

Thy Husband wants not skill. 

He sees the sore, he knows the cure 

Will most adapted be ; 
? Tis then most reasonable, sure, 

Thy Husband choose for thee* 



96 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II- 

Friendship is in his chastisements, 

And favour in his frowns ; 
Thence judge not then in heavy plaints* 

Thy Husband thee disowns; 

The deeper his sharp lancet go 

In ripping up thy wound, 
The more thy healing shall unto 

Thy Husband's praise redound. 

SECTION III. — Christ the believer's wonderful Physician 
and wealthy Friend. 

Kind Jesus empties whom hell fill, 

Casts down whom he will raise ; 
He quickens whom he seems to kill ; 

Thy Husband thus gets praise. 

When awful rods are in his hand, 

There's mercy in his mind ; 
When clouds upon his brow do stand* 

Thy Husband's heart is kind. 

In various changes to and fro* 

He'll ever constant prove ; 
Nor can his kindness come and go, 

Thy Husband's name is Love, 

His friends in most afflicted lot 

His favour must have felt; 
For when they're try'd in furnace hot, 

Thy Husband's bowels melt. 

When he his bride or wounds or heals* 

Heart-kindness does him move ; 
And wraps in frowns as well as smiles* 

Thy Husband's lasting love. 

In's hand no cure could ever fail* 

Though of a hopeless state, 
He can in desperate cases heal, 

Thy Husband's art's so great. 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 97 

The medicine he did prepare, 

Can't fail to work for good ; 
O balsam powerful, precious, rare, 

Thy Husband's sacred blood ! 

Which freely from his broached breast 

Gushed out like pent up fire. 
His cures are best, his wages least — 

Thy Husband takes no hire. 

Thou hast no worth, no might, no good, 

His favour to procure : 
But see his store, his power, his blood ! 

Thy Husband's never poor. 

Himself he humbled wondrously 

Once to the lowest pitch, 
That bankrupts through his poverty 

Thy Husband might enrich. 

His treasure is more excellent 

Than hills of Ophir gold : 
In telling stores were ages spent, 

Thy Husband's can't be told. 

All things that fly on wings of fame, 

Compared with these are dross ; 
Thy searchless riches in his name, 

Thy Husband doth engross. 

The great Immanuel, God-man, 

Includes such store divine ; 
Angels and saints will never scan 

Thy Husband's golden mine. 

He's full of grace and truth* indeed, 

Of Spirit,^ merit, might ; 
Of all the wealth that bankrupts need 

Thy Husband's heir by right. 

Tho' heaven's his throne^ he came from thence, 
To seek and save the lost ;|| 

* John i. 14. f Jonn "»• 34 « X Isa « lxvi - *• 

|| Luke xix. 10. 



98 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

Whatever be the vast expence, 
Thy Husband's at the cost. 

Pleased to expend each drop of blood 

That filled his royal reins, 
He frank the sacred victim stood ; 

Thy Husband spared no pains. 

His cost immense was in thy place ; 

Thy freedom cost his thrall ; 
Thy glory cost him deep disgrace — 

Thy Husband paid for all. 

SECTION IV. — The believer's safety under the covert [of 
Christ's atoning blood, and powerful intercession. 

When Heaven proclaimed hot war and wrath, 

And sin increased the strife ; 
By rich obedience unto death, 

Thy Husband bought thy life. 

The charges could not be abridged, 

But on these noble terms ; 
Which all that prize, are hugged amidst 

Thy Husband's folded arms. 

When law condemns, and justice too 

To prison would thee hale ; 
As sureties kind for bankrupts do, 

Thy Husband offers bail. 

God on these terms is reconciled, 

And thou his heart hast won : 
In Christ thou art his favoured child, 

Thy Husband is his Son. 

Vindictive wrath is whole appeased, 

Thou need not then be moved ; 
In Jesus always he's well pleased, 

Thy Husband's his Belov'd* 

What can be laid unto thy charge, 
When God does not condemn ? 

* Matt. iii. 17. 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 99 

Bills of complaint, though foes enlarge, 
Thy Husband answers them. 

When fear thy guilty mind confounds, 

Full comfort this may yield ; 
Thy ransom-bill with blood and wounds, 

Thy Husband kind has sealed. 

His promise is the fair extract 

Thou hast at hand to shew ; 
Stern justice can no more exact, 

Thy Husband paid its due. 

No terms he left thee to fulfil, 

No clog to mar thy faith ; 
His bond is signed, his latter-will, 

Thy Husband sealed by death. 

The great condition of the band 

Of promise and of bliss, 
Is wrought by him, and brought to hand 

Thy Husband's righteousness. 

When therefore pressed in time of need, 

To sue the promise good, 
Thou hast no more to do but plead 

Thy Husband's sealing blood. 

This can thee more to God commend, 

And cloudly wrath dispel, 
Than e'er thy sinning could offend ; 

Thy Husband vanquished hell. 

When vengeance seems, for broken laws, 

To light on thee with dread ; 
Let Christ be umpire of thy cause, 

Thy Husband well can plead. 

He pleads his righteousness that brought 

All rents the law could crave ; 
Whate'er its precepts, threat'nings, sought, 

Thy Husband fully gave. 



100 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

Did holiness in precepts stand, 

And for perfection call, 
Justice in threat'ning death demand? 

Thy Husband gave it all. 

His blood the fiery law did quench, 

Its summons need not scare: 
Tho' 't cite thee to Heaven's awful bench, 

Thy Husband's at the bar. 

This Advocate has much to say, 

His clients need not fear ; 
For God the Father hears him aye, 

Thy Husband hath his ear. 

A cause failed never in his hand, 

So strong his pleading is ; 
His Father grants his whole demand, 

Thy Husband's will is his. 

Hell-forces all may rendezvous, 

Accusers may combine ; 
Yet fear thou not who art his spouse, 

Thy Husband's cause is thine. 

By solemn oath Jehovah did 

His priesthood ratify ; 
Let earth and hell then counterplead, 

Thy Husband gains the plea. 

SECTION V — The Believer's Faith and Hope encour- 
aged even in the darkest nights of desertion and distress. 

The cunning serpent may accuse, 

But never shall succeed ; 
The God of peace will Satan bruise — 

Thy Husband broke his head* 

Hell furies threaten to devour, 
Like lions robb'd of whelps : 

* Rom. xvi. 20. 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 101 

But, lo ! in every perilous hour, 
Thy Husband always helps. 

That feeble faith may never fail, 

Thine Advocate has prayed ; 
Though winnowing* tempests may assail, 

Thy Husband's near to aid. 

Though grievous trials grow apace, 

And put thee to a stand ; 
Thou mayst rejoice in every case, 

Thy Husband's help at hand. 

Trust thou when in desertion dark, 

No twinkling star by night, 
No ray appear, no glimm'ring spark ; 

Thy Husband is thy light. 

His beams anon the clouds can rent, 

And through the vapours run ; 
For of the brightest firmament, 

Thy Husband is the Sun. 

Without the Sun who mourning go, 

And scarce the way can find, 
He brings through paths they do not know ;* 

Thy Husband leads the blind. 

Through fire and water he with skill 

Brings to a wealthy land ; 
Rude flames and roaring floods, be still, 

Thy Husband can command. 

When sin disorders heavy brings, 

That press thy soul with weight ; 
Then mind how many crooked things 

Thy Husband has made straight. 

Still look to him with longing eyes, 
Though both thine eyes should fail ; 

Cry, and at length, though not thy cries, 
Thy Husband shall prevail. 

* Isa. xliii. 19. 



102 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

Still hope for favour at his hand, 

Though favour don't appear ; 
When help seems most aloof to stand, 

Thy Husband's then most near. 

In cases, hopeless-like, faint hopes 

May fail, and fears annoy ; 
But most when stript of earthly props, 

Thy Husband thou'lt enjoy. 

If providence the promise thwart, 

And yet thy humbled mind 
'Gainst hope believes in hope,* thou art 

Thy Husband's dearest friend. 

Art thou a weakling, poor and faint, 

In jeopardy each hour ? 
Let not thy weakness move thy plaint, 

Thy Husband has the pow'r. 

Dread not the foes that foil'd thee long, 

Will rule thee at length ; 
When thou art weak, then art thou strong ; 

Thy Husband is thy strength. 

When foes are mighty, many too, 

Don't fear, nor quit the field : 
'Tis not with thee they have to do — 

Thy Husband is thy shield. 

'Tis hard to fight against an host, 

Or strive against the stream ; 
But lo ! when all seems to be lost, 

Thy Husband will redeem. 

SECTION VI Benefits accruing to Believers, from the 

offices, names, natures, and sufferings of Christ. 

Art thou by lusts a captive led, 
Which breeds thy deepest grief ? 

* Rom vi. 18. 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 103 

To ransom captives is his trade, 
Thy Husband's thy relief. 

His precious name is JESUS ; why ? 

Because he saves from sin ';* 
Redemption-right he won't deny, 

Thy Husband's near of kin. 

His wounds have sav'd thee once from woes, 
His blood from vengeance screen'd ; 

When heav'n and earth, and hell were foes, 
Thy Husband was a friend. 

And will thy Captain now look on, 

And see thee trampled down ? 
When, lo ! thy Champion has the throne, 

Thy Husband wears the crown. 

Yield not, though cunning Satan bribe, 

Or like a lion roar ? 
The lion strong of Judah's tribe, 

Thy Husband's to the fore. 

And that he never will forsake, f 

His credit fair he pawn'd ; 
In hottest broils, then, courage take, 

Thy Husband's at thy hand. 

No storm needs drive thee to a strait, 

Who dost his aid invoke : 
Fierce winds may blow, proud waves may beat, 

Thy Husband is the rock. 

Renounce thine own ability, 

Lean to his promis'd might ; 
The strength of Isra'l cannot lie, 

Thy Husband's pow'r is plight : 

An awful truth does here present, 

Whoever think it odd ; 
In him thou art omnipotent, 

Thy Husband is a God. 

* Matt i. 12. f Heb - xiii - & 



104 GOSPEL SONNETS* [PART II. 

Jehovah's strength is in thy Head, 

Which faith may boldly scan ; 
God in thy nature does reside, 

Thy Husband is a man. 

Thy flesh is his, his Spirit thine ; 

And that you both are one, 
One body, spirit, temple, vine, 

Thy Husband deigns to own. 

Kind he assum'd thy flesh and blood 

This union to pursue ; 
And without shame his brotherhood 

Thy Husband does avow. 

He bore the cross, thy crown to win, 

His blood he freely spilt ; 
The holy One assuming sin, 

Thy Husband bore the guilt. 

Lo ! What a blessed exchange is this ! 

What wisdom shines therein ! 
That thou might't be made righteousness , 

Thy Husband was made sin.* 

The God of joy a man of grief, 

Thy sorrows to discuss ; 
Pure innocence hang'd as a thief: 

Thy Husband loved thee thus. 

Bright beauty had his visage niarr'd, 

His comely form abus'd. 
True rest was from all rest debarr'd, 

Thy Husband's heel was bruis'd. 

The God of blessing was a curse, 

The Lord of lords a drudge, 
The heir of all things poor in purse : 

Thy Husband did not grudge. 

The Judge of all condemned was, 
The God immortal slain ; 

*2 Cor. v. 21. 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 105 

No favour, in thy woful cause, 
Thy Husband did obtain. 

SECTION VII. — Christ's sufferings further improved, 
and Believers called to live by faith, both when they have 
and want sensible influences. 

Loud praises sing-, without surcease, 

To him that frankly came, 
And gave his soul a sacrifice ; 

Thy Husband was the Lamb. 

What waken'd vengeance could denounce, 

All round him did beset ; 
And never left his soul, till once 

Thy Husband paid the debt. 

And though new debt thou still contract, 

And run in deep arrears ; 
Yet all thy burden on his back 

Thy Husband always bears. 

Thy Judge will ne'er demand of thee 

Two payments for one debt ; 
Thee with one victim wholly free 

Thy Husband kindly set. 

That no grim vengeance might thee meet, 

Thy Husband met with all; 
And, that thy soul may drink the sweet, 

Thy Husband drank the gall 

Full breasts of joy he loves t' extend, 

Like to a kindly nurse ; 
And, that thy bliss might full be gain'd, 

Thy Husband was a curse. 

Thy sins he glued unto the tree — 

His blood this virtue hath ; 
For, that thy heart to sin might die, 

Thy Husband suffer'd death. 

To purchase fully all thy good, 
All evil him befel ; 
H 



106 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

To win thy heav'n, with streams of blood, 
Thy Husband quenched hell. 

That this kind Days-man in one band 

Might God and man betroth, 
He on both parties lays his hand, 

Thy Husband pleases both. 

The blood that could stern justice please, 

And law-demands fulfil, 
Can also guilty conscience ease ; 

Thy Husband clears the bill. 

Thy highest glory is obtain'd 

By his abasement deep ; 
And that thy tears might all be drain'd, 

Thy Husband chose to weep. 

His bondage all thy freedom bought, 

He stoop'd so lowly down ; 
His grappling all thy grandeur brought, 

Thy Husband's cross thy crown. 

'Tis by his shock thy sceptre sways, 

His warfare ends thy strife ; 
His poverty thy wealth conveys ; 

Thy Husband's death thy life. 

Do mortal damps invade thy heart, 

And deadness seize thee sore ? 
Rejoice in this, that life t' impart 

Thy Husband has in store. 

And when new life imparted seems 

Established as a rock ; 
Boast in the fountain, not the streams ; 

Thy Husband is thy stock. 

The streams may take a various turn, 

The fountain never moves : 
Cease then, o'er failing streams to mourn, 

Thy Husband thus thee proves, 

That glad thou may'st, when drops are gone, 
Joy in the spacious sea ; 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 107 

When incomes fail, then still upon 
Thy Husband keep thine eye. 

But can't thou look, nor moan thy strait, 

So dark's the dismal hour ? 
Yet, as thou'rt able, cry and wait 

Thy Husband's day of pow'r. 

Tell him, though sin prolong the term, 

Yet love can scarce delay : 
Thy want, his promise, all affirm, 

Thy Husband must not stay. 

SECTION VIII. — Christ the Believer's enriching Treasure. 

Kind Jesus lives, thy life to be, 

Who mak'st him thy refuge ; 
And, when he comes, thou'lt joy to see 

Thy Husband shall be Judge. 

Should passing troubles thee annoy, 

Without, within, or both : 
Since endless life thou'lt then enjoy, 

Thy Husband pledg'd his troth. 

What won't he, even in time impart 

That's for thy real good ? 
He gave his love, he gave his heart, 

Thy Husband gave his blood. 

He gives himself, and what should more ? 

What can he then refuse ? 
If this won't please thee, ah ! how sore 

Thy Husband dost abuse! 

Earth's fruit, heav'n's dew he won't deny, 

Whose eyes they need behold : 
Nought under or above the sky, 

Thy Husband will withhold. 

Do losses grieve? Since all is thine, 
What loss can thee befal ? 
h2 



108 GOSPEL SONNETS. [ PART *« 

All things for good to thee combine,* 
Thy Husband orders all. 

Thou'rt not put off with barren leaves, 

Or dung of earthly pelf; 
More wealth than heav'n and earth he gives, 

Thy Husband's thine himself. 

Thou hast enough to stay thy plaint, 

Else thou complain'st of ease ; 
For, having all, don't speak of want, 

Thy Husband may suffice. 

From this thy store, believing, take 

Wealth to the utmost pitch : 
The gold of Ophir cannot make, 

Thy Husband makes thee rich. 

Some flying gains acquire by pains, 

And some by plund'ring toil ; 
Such treasure fades, but thine remains, 

Thy Husband's cannot spoil. 

SECTION IX. — Christ the Believer's adorning Garment 

Yea, thou excell'st in rich attire 

The lamp that lights the globe ; 
Thy sparkling garment heav'ns admire, 

Thy Husband is thy robe, 

This raiment never waxeth old, 

'Tis always new and clean ; 
From summer heat, and winter cold, 

Thy Husband can thee screen. 

All who the name of worthies bore, 

Since Adam was undrest, 
No worth acquir'd, but as they wore 

Thy Husband's purple vest. 

This linen fine can beautify 
The soul with sin begirt ; 

* Rom. viii. 28. 



the believer's jointure. 109 

O bless his name that e'er on thee 
Thy Husband spread his skirt. 

Are dunghills deck'd with flowery glore, 

Which Solomon's outvie? 
Sure thine is infinitely more, 

Thy Husband decks the sky> 

Thy hands could never work the dress, 

By grace alone thou'rt gay ; 
Grace vents and reigns through righteousness, 

Thy Husband's bright array. 

To spin thy robe no more dost need 

Than lilies toil for theirs ; 
Out of his bowels every thread 

Thy Husband thine prepares. 

SECTION X. — Christ the Believer's sweet Nourishment, 

Thy food, conform to thine array, 

Is heav'nly and divine : 
On pastures green, where angels play, 

Thy Husband feeds thee fine. 

Angelic food may make thee fair, 

And look with cheerful face ; 
The bread of life, the double share, 

Thy Husband's love and grace. 

What can he give or thou desire, 

More than his flesh and blood ? 
Let angels wonder, saints admire, 

Thy Husband is thy food. 

His flesh the incarnation bears 
From whence thy feeding flows ; 

His blood the satisfaction clears : 
Thy Husband both bestows. 

Th' incarnate God a sacrifice 

To turn the wrathful tide, 
Is food for faith : that may suffice 

Thv Husband's guilty bride. 
h3 



110 GOSPEL SONNETS [PART II. 

This strength'ning food may fit and fence 

For work and war to come ; 
Till thro' the cloud some moments hence, 

Thy Husband bring thee home ; 

Where plenteous feasting will suceed 

To scanty feeding here : 
And joyful at the table-head 

Thy Husband fair appear. 

The crumbs to banquets will give place 

And drops to rivers new: 
While heart and eye will face to face 

Thy Husband ever view. 

CHAPTER II. 

Containing the Marks and Characters of the Believer in 
Christ ; together with some farther privileges and 
grounds of comfort to the saints. 

SECTION I. — Doubting Believers called to examine, by 
marks drawn from their love to him and his presence, their 
view of his glory, and their being emptied of self righte- 
ousness, 8fc. 

Good news ! but, says the drooping bride, 

Ah ! what's all this to me ? 
Thou doubt'st thy right when shadows hide 

Thy Husband's face from thee. 

Through sin and guilt thy spirit faints, 

And trembling fears thy fate ; 
But harbour not thy groundless plaints, 

Thy Husband's advent wait. 

Thou sobb'st, " O were I sure he's mine, 
This would give glad'ning ease ?" 

And say'st, tho' wants and woes combine, 
Thy Husband would thee please. 

But up and down, and seldom clear, 
Inclosed with hellish routs ; 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. Ill 

Yet yield thou not, nor foster fear; 
Thy Husband hates thy doubts. 

Thy cries and tears may slighted seem, 

And barr'd from present ease ; 
Yet blame thyself, but never dream 

Thy Husband's ill to please. 

Thy jealous, unbelieving heart 

Still droops, and knows not why ; 
Then prove thyself to ease thy smart, 

Thy Husband bids thee try. 

The following questions put to thee, 

As scripture marks may tell 
And shew, whate'er thy failings be, 

Thy Husband loves thee well. 

MARKS. 

Art thou content when he's away ? 

Can earth allay thy pants ? 
If conscience witness, won't it say, 

Thy Husband's all thou wants? 

When he is near, (though in a cross,) 

And thee with comforts feeds; 
Dost thou not count the earth as dross, 

Thy Husband all thou needs? 

In duties art thou pleas'd or pain'd, 

When far he's out of view ? 
And finding him, think'st all regain'd, 

Thy Husband always new. 

Tho' once thou thought'st, while Sinai mist 

And darkness compass'd thee, 
Thou wast undone, and glorious Christ 

Thy Husband ne'er would be ; 

Yet know'st thou not a fairer place, 

Of which it may be told, 
That there the glory of his grace 

Thy Husband did unfold ? 



112 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

Where heav'nly beams inflam'd thy soul, 

And love's seraphic art, 
With hallelujahs did extol 

Thy Husband in thy heart. 

Couldst then have wished all Adam's race 

Had join'd with thee to gaze ; 
That viewing fond his comely face, 

Thy Husband might get praise ? 

Art thou disjoin'd from other lords ? 

Divorc'd from fed'ral laws ? 
While with most loving gospel cords 

Thy Husband kindly draws ? 

AVt thou enlighten'd now to see 

Thy righteousness is naught 
But rags,* that cannot cover thee ? 

Thy Husband so has taught. 

Dost see thy best performances 

Deserve but hell indeed ? 
And hence art led, renouncing these, 

Thy Husband's blood to plead ? 

When strengthen'd boldly to address 

That gracious throne of his, 
Dost find thy strength and righteousness, 

Thy Husband only is ? 

Canst thou thy most exalted frame 

Renounce, as with'ring grass, 
And firmly hold thine only claim 

Thy Husband's worthiness. 

Canst pray with utmost holy pith,f 

And yet renounce thy good? 
And wash, not with thy tears, but with] 

Thy Husband's precious blood ? 

* Isa. lxiv. 6. f Vigour or strength. 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 113 



SECTION II Believers described from their Faith acting 

by divine aid, and fleeing quite out of themselves to Christ. 

Can nothing less thy conscience ease, 

And please thy heart ; no less 
Than that which justice satisfies, 

Thy Husband's righteousness ? 

Dost see thy works so stain'd with sin, 
That thou through grace art mov'd 

To seek acceptance only in 
Thy Husband, the Belov'd ? 

Dost thou remind^ that once a day 

Free grace did strengthen thee, 
To gift thy guilty soul away, 

Thy Husband's bride to be ? 

Or dost thou mind the day of pow'r, 

Wherein he broke thy pride, 
And gain'd thy heart : O happy hour 

Thy Husband caught the bride ! 

He did thy enmity subdue, 

Thy bondage sad recall, 
Made thee to choose, and close pursue 

Thy Husband as thy all. 

What rest, and peace, and joy ensued 

Upon this noble choice? 
Thy heart, with flow'rs of pleasure strew'd, 

Thy Husband made rejoice. 

Dost know thou ne'er couldst him embrace, 

Till he embraced thee ? 
Nor ever see him, till his face 

Thy Husband open'd free? 

And findest to this very hour, 

That this is still the charm ; 
Thou canst do nothing, till with pow'r 

Thy Husband shew his arm ? 



114 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

Canst thou do nought by nature, art, 

Or any strength of thine, 
Until thy wicked fro ward heart 

Thy Husband shall incline? 

But art thou, though without a wing 

Of pow'r aloft to flee, 
Yet able to do ev'ry thing, 

Thy Husband strength'ning thee ? 

Dost not alone at duties fork,* 

But foreign aid enjoy ? 
And still in ev'ry piece of work 

Thy Husband's strength employ ? 

Thy motion heav'nly is indeed, 

While thou by faith dost move, 
And still in ev'ry time of need 

Thy Husband's grace improve. 

No common nat'ral faith can shew 

Its divine brood like this ; 
Whose object, author, feeder too, 

Thy Husband only is. 

Dost thou by faith on him rely ? 

On him, not on thy faith ? 
If faith shall with its object vie, 

Thy Husband sets beneath. 

Their hand's receiving faculty 

Poor beggars never view ; 
But hold the royal gift in eye : 

Thy Husband so wilt thou. 

Faith like a gazing eye ne'er waits 

To boast in seeing pow'rs ; 
Its object views, itself forgets ; 

Thy Husband it adores. 

It humbly still itself denies, 
Nor brags its acts at all ; 

* Labour, wrestle, or toil. 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 115 

Deep plung'd into its object lies, 
Thy Husband is its all. 

No strength but his it has, and vaunts, 

No store but his can show : 
Hence nothing has, yet nothing wants, 

Thy Husband trains it so. 

Faith of its own no might can shew, 

Else would itself destroy ; 
But will, for all it has to do, 

Thy Husband still employ. 

Self-saviours none could ever be 

By faith or grace of theirs ; 
Their fruitless toil so high that flee, 

Thy Husband's praise impairs. 

The seemingly devoutest deed, 
That would with shameless brow 

His saving trade take o'er his head, 
Thy Husband won't allow. 

Dost therefore thou to him alone 

Commit thy sinful soul ; 
Knowing of thy salvation 

Thy Husband is the whole ? 

SECTION III Believers characterised by the objects and 

purity of their desire, delight, joy, hatred, and love, disco- 
vering they have the Spirit of Christ. 

Dost thou his Spirit's conduct wait ? 

And, when compar'd to this, 
All worldly wisdom under-rate ? 

Thy Husband waits to bless. 

Tak'st thou his Spirit for thy guide 

Through Baca's valley dry, 
Whose streams of influences glide 

Thy Husband's garden by ? 

In digging wells here by his pow'r 
Dost find it not in vain, 



116 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART It. 

While here a drop, and there a shower, 
Thy Husband makes to rain ? 

Hence dost thou through each weary ease* 
From strength to strength go on, 

From faith to faith, while grace for grace 
Thy Husband gives anon ? 

The good, the gracious work begun, 

And furthered by his strength, 
Shall prosp'rous, though with wrestling, win 

Thy Husband's crown at length. 

Sin's pow'r and presence canst thou own 

Is thy most grievous smart, 
That makes thee sob, and weep alone? 

Thy Husband knows thy heart. 

Does love to him make thee distaste 
Thy lusts with all their charms ? 

And most them loath'st when most thou hast 
Thy Husband in thine arms ? 

Are cords of love the sweetest ties 

To bind thee duty- ways? 
And best thou serv'st when most thou spies 

Thy Husband's beauteous rays ? 

Didst ever thou thy pardon read 

In tears of untold joy ? 
When mercy made thy heart to bleed, 

Thy Husband was not coy. 

Does pardon sweetly melt thy heart? 

And most imbitter sin ? 
And make thee long with dross to part, 

Thy Husband's throne to win ? 

When he arises lusts to kill, 

Corruptions to destroy, 
Does gladness then thy spirit fill? 

Thy Husband is thy joy. 

Dost thou his person fair embrace 
Beyond his blessings all ? 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE 117 

Sure, then, thou boldly mayst through grace 
Thy Husband Jesus call. 

What company dost thou prefer? 

What friends above the rest? 
Of all relations every where, 

Thy Husband is the best. 

Whom in the heaven or earth dost thou 

Most ardently desire? 
Is love's ascending spark unto 
Thy Husband set on fire ? 

Hast thou a hatred to his foes, 

And dost their course decline? 
Lov'st thou his saints, and dar'st suppose 

Thy Husband's friends are thine ? 

Dost thou their talk and walk esteem, 

When most divinely grave? 
And favour'st best when most they seem 

Thy Husband's Spirit to have ? 

SECTION IV — Believers in Christ effect in counsel, 
word, ordinances, appearance, full enjoyment in heaven, 
and sweet presence here. 

Where go'st thou first when in a strait, 

Or when with grief opprest? 
Flee'st thou to him ? O happy gate, 

Thy Husband is thy rest. 

His counsel seek'st thou still prepar'd, 

Nor canst without him live ? 
Wisdom to guide, and strength to guard, 

Thy Husband hath to give. 

Can thou produce no pleasant pawn, 

Or token of his love? 
Won't signets, bracelets, from his hand, 

Thy Husband's kindness prove ? 

Mind'st when he sent his healing word, 
Which, darting from on high, 



118 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

Did light, and life, and joy afford ? 
Thy Husband then was nigh. 

Canst thou the promise sweet forget 

He dropt into thy heart, 
Such gladdening pow'r and love with it, 

Thy Husband did impart. 

Dost thou affect his dwelling-place, 

And mak'st it thy repair : 
Because thine eyes have seen, through grace, 

Thy Husband's glory there ? 

Dost love his great appearing day, 

And thereon muse with joy ; 
When dusky shades will fly away, 

Thy Husband death destroy? 

Dost long to see his glorious face 

Within the higher orb, 
Where humid sorrows losing place, 

Thy Husband's rays absorb ? 

Long'st to be free of ev'ry fault, 

To bid all sin adieu ? 
And mount the hill, where glad thou shalt 

Thy Husband's glory view ? 

Life where it lives, love where it loves, 

Will most desire to be : 
Such love-sick longing plainly proves 

Thy Husband's love to thee. 

What is it best can ease thy plaint, 
Spread morning o'er thine even? 

Is his approach thine heart's content, 
Thy Husband's presence heaven ? 

And when denied this sweet relief, 

Canst thou assert full well, 
His hiding is thy greatest grief, 

Thy Husband's absence hell? 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 119 

Let thy experience be disclosed ; 

If conscience answer Yea 
To all the queries here proposed, 

Thy Husband's thine for aye. 

Pertain these characters to thee ? 

Then, soul, begin and praise 
His glorious worthy name, for he 

Thy Husband is always. 

SECTION V. — The true Believer's humility, dependence, 
zeal, growth, admiration of free grace, and knowledge of 
Christ's voice. 

Perhaps a saint may sigh and say, 

" I fear I'm yet to learn 
These marks of marriage-love." Yet stay, 

Thy Husband's bowels yearn. 

Though darkness may the light obscure, 

And storms surmount thy calms, 
Day yield to night, and thou be poor, 

Thy Husband yet has alms. 

Dost see thyself an empty brat, 

A poor unworthy thing, 
With heart upon the dust laid flat ? 

Thy Husband there does reign. 

Art in thine own esteem a beast, 

And dost thyself abhor ? 
The more thou hast of self distaste, 

Thy Husband loves thee more. 

Can hell breed no such wicked elf, 

As though in thine own sight ? 
Thou'st got, to see thy filthy self, 

Thy Husband's purest light. 

Canst find no names so black, so vile, 
With which thou wouldst compare, 

But call'st thyself a lump of hell ? 
Thy Husband calls thee fair. 



120 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

When his kind visits make thee see 

He's precious, thou art vile, 
Then mark the hand of God with thee, 

Thy Husband gives a smile. 

He knows what visits suit thy state, 

And though most rare they be, 
It sets thee well on him to wait, 

Thy Husband waits on thee. 

Dost see thou art both poor and weak, 

And he both full and strong ? 
O do not his delays mistake, 

Thy Husband comes ere long. 

Though during Sinai's stormy stay, 

Thou dread'st the dismal blast, 
And fear'st thou art a cast away, 

Thy Husband comes at last. 

The glorious Sun will rise apace, 

And spread his healing wings, 
In sparkling pomp of sov'reign grace, 

Thy Husband gladness brings. 

Can'st thou, whate'er should come of thee, 

Yet wish his Zion well, 
And joy in her prosperity ? 

Thy Husband loves thy zeal. 

Dost thou admire his love to some, 
Though thou shouldst never share ? 

Mercy to thee will also come, 
Thy Husband hath to spare. 

Poor soul ! dost grieve for want of grace, 

And weep for want of love, 
And Jesus seek'st ! O hopeful case ! 

Thy Husband lives above. 

Regretting much thy falling short, 

Dost after more aspire ? 
There's hope in Israel for thy sort, 

Thy Husband's thy desire. 






THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 121 

Art thou well pleased that sov'reign grace 

Through Christ, exalted be ? 
This frame denotes no hopeless case, 

Thy Husband's pleased with thee. 

Couldst love to be the footstool low, 

On which this throne might rise 
Its pompous grace around to show ? 

Thy Husband does thee prize. 

If but a glance of his fair face 
Can cheer thee more than wine ; 

Thou in his loving heart hast place, 
Thy Husband place in thine. 

Dost make his blood thy daily bath ? 

His word and oath thy stay ? 
His law of love thy lightsome path ? 

Thy Husband is thy way. 

All things within earth's spacious womb 

Dost but count loss and dung, 
For one sweet word in season from 

Thy Husband's learned tongue? 

Skill to discern and know his voice, 

From words of wit and art, 
Will clearly prove thou art his choice, 

Thy Husband thine in heart. 

The pompous words that fops admire, 

May vagrant fancy feast ; 
But with seraphic harmless fire 

Thy Husband's burn the breast. 

SECTION VI True Believers are willing to be tried and 

examined. Comforts arising to them from Christ's ready 
supply, real sympathy, and relieving names, suiting their 
needs. 

Dost thou upon thy trait'rous heart 
Still keep a jealous eye? 
i 



122 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

Most willing that thine inward part 
Thy Husband strictly try ? 

The thieving crowd will hate the light, 

Lest stolen effects be shown ; 
But truth desires what's wrong or right 

Thy Husband would make known. 

Dost thou his trying word await, 

His searching doctrine love ? 
Fond, lest thou err through self-deceit, 

Thy Husband would thee prove ? 

Does oft thy mind with inward smart 

Bewail thy unbelief? 
And conscious sue from plagues of heart 

Thy Husband for relief? 

Why doubt'st his love ? and yet, behold 
With him thou would'st not part 

For thousand thousands earths of gold ; 
Thy Husband has thy heart. 

Though darkness, deadness, unbelief, 

May all thy soul attend ; 
Light, life, and faith's mature relief, 

Thy Husband has to send. 

Of wants annoying, why complain ? 

Supply arises hence ; 
What gifts he has receiv'd for men,* 

Thy Husband will dispense. 

He got them in's exalted state 

For rebels such as thou ; 
All then that's needful, good or great, 

Thy Husband will allow. 

Thy wants he sees, thy cries he hears ; 

And, marking all thy moans, 
He in his bottle keeps thy tears, 

Thy Husband notes thy groans. 

* Psalm Ixviii. 18. 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 123 

All thine infirmities him touch, 

They strike his feeling heart ; 
His kindly sympathy is such, 

Thy Husband finds the smart. 

Whatever touches thee affects 

The apple of his eye ; 
Whatever harms he therefore checks, 

Thy Husband's aid is nigh. 

If foes are spar'd, thy need is such, 

He slays them but in part ; 
He can do all, and will do much, 

Thy Husband acts by art. 

He often for the saddest hour 

Reserves the sweetest aid : 
See how such banners heretofore 

Thy Husband has display'd 

Mind where he vouched his good-will, 

Sometimes at Hermon* mount, 
In Jordan land at Mizar hill ; 

Thy Husband keeps t e count. 

At sundry times and divers ways, 

To suit thy various frames, 
Has seen, like rising golden rays, 

Thy Husband's various names. 

When guilty conscience ghastly star'd, 

Jehovah-tsidkenu,| 
The Lord thy righteousness appear'd 

Thy Husband in thy view. 

When in thy straits or wants extreme, 

Help fail'd on every side, 
Jehovah- JirehJ was his name, 

Thy Husband did provide. 

When thy long absent Lord didst moan, 
And to his courts repair ; 

Psalm xliii. 6. f Jer. xxxiii. 16. J Gen. xxii. 14. 

i2 



124 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

Then was Jehovah-shammah* known, 
Thy Husband present there. 

When thy assaulting foes appeared 

In robes of terror clad, 
JEHOVAH-Nissif then was reared, 

Thy Husband's banner spread. 

When furies arm'd with fright'ning guilt, 

Dunn'd war without surcease ; 
Jehovah-shalomJ then was built, 

Thy Husband sent thee peace. 

When thy diseases death proclaimed, 

And creature-balsam fail'd, 
Jehovah-rophi§ then was fram'd 

Thy Husband kindly heal'd. 

Thus, as thy various needs require, 

In various modes like these, 
The help that suits thy heart's desire, 

Thy Husband's name conveys. 

To th' little flocks as cases vary, 

The great Jehovah shews 
Himself a little sanctuary, || 

Thy Husband gives the views. 

SECTION VII. — The Believer's experience of Christ's 
comfortable presence, or of former comforts, to be improved 
for his encouragement and support under darkness and hidings. 

Dost mind the place, the spot of land, 

Where Jesus did thee meet ? 
And how he got thy heart and hand ? 

Thy Husband then was sweet. 

Dost mind the garden, chamber, bank, 
A vale of vision seem'd ? 



* Ezek. xlviii. 35. f Exod. xvii. 15. J Judg. vi. 24. 

§ Exod. xv. 26. |[ Ezekiel xi. 16. 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 125 

Thy joy was full, thy heart was frank, 
Thy Husband much esteem'd 

Let thy experience sweet declare, 

If able to remind ; 
A Bochim here, a Bethel there, 

Thy Husband made thee find. 

Was such a corner, such a place. 

A paradise to thee, 
A Peniel, where face to face 

Thy Husband fair didst see? 

There did he clear thy cloudy cause, 

Thy doubts and fears destroy; 
And on thy spirit seal'd he was 

Thy Husband with great joy. 

Couldst thou have said it boldly then, 

And seal'd it with thy blood ? 
Yea, welcome death with pleasure, when 

Thy Husband by thee stood. 

That earth again should thee insnare, 

O how thy heart was pain'd ! 
For all its fading glory there 

Thy Husband's beauty stain'd. 

The thoughts of living more in sin 

Were then like hell to thee ; 
The life of heaven did thus begin, 

Thy Husband set thee free. 

Whate'er thou foundst him at thy best, 

He's at thy worst the same ; 
And in his love will ever rest, 

Thy Husband holds his claim. 

Let faith these visits keep in store, 

Through sense the pleasure miss, 
The God of Bethel, as before, 

Thy Husband always is. 
i3 



126 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

In measuring his approaches kind, 

And timing his descents ; 
In free and sovereign ways thou'lt find 

Thy Husband thee prevents. 

Prescribe not to him in thy heart, 

He's infinitely wise. 
How oft he throws his loving dart, 

Thy Husband does surprise. 

Perhaps a sudden gale thee blest, 

While walking in thy road, 
Or on a journey, ere thou wist, 

Thy Husband looked thee broad. 

Thus was the eunuch fam*d (his stage 

A riding on the way, 
As he revolv'd the sacred page*) 

Thy Husband's happy prey. 

In hearing, reading, singing, pray'r, 

When darkness compass'd thee, 
Thou foundst, or e'er thou wast aware. 

Thy Husband's light'ning free. 

Of heavenly gales don't meanly think : 

For, though thy soul complains, 
They're but a short and passing blink ; 

Thy Husband's love remains. 

Think not, though breezes haste away, 

Thou dost his favour lose ; 
But learn to know his sov'reign way ; 

Thy Husband comes and goes. 

Dont say he's gone for ever, though 

His visits he adjourn \ 
For yet a little while, and lo, 

Thy Husband will return. 

In worship social, or retir'd, 
Dost thou his absence wail ? 

* Acts viii. 27—39. 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 12 

Wait at his shore and be not feared, 
Thy Husband's ship's a-sail. 

Yea, though in duties sense may miss 

Thy soul's beloved one ; 
Yet do not faint, for never is 

Thy Husband wholly gone. 

Though Satan, sin, earth, hell at once 

Would thee of joy bereave : 
Mind what he said he won't renounce, 

Thy Husband will not leave. 

Though foes assail, and friendship fail, 

Thou hast a friend at court : 
The gates of hell shall ne'er prevail, 

Thy Husband is thy fort. 

SECTION VIII Comfort to Believers from the stability 

of the promise , notwithstanding heavy chastisements for sin. 

Take well howe'er kind wisdom may 

Dispose thy present lot ; 
Tho' heaven and earth should pass away, 

Thy Husband's love will not. 

All needful help he will afford, 

Thou hast his vow and oath ; 
And once to violate his word 

Thy Husband will be loath. 

To fire and floods with thee he'll down, 

His promise this insures, 
Whose credit cannot burn nor drown : 

Thy Husband's truth endures. 

Dost thou no more his word believe, 

As mortal man's, forsooth ? 
O do not thus his Spirit grieve, 

Thy Husband is the Truth. 

Though thou both wicked art and weak, 
His word he'll never rue ; 



128 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

Tho' heaven and earth should bend and break, 
Thy Husband will be true. 

I'll never leave thee,* is his vow ; 

If truth has said the word 
While truth is truth, this word is true, 

Thy Husband is the Lord. 

Thy covenant of duties may 

Prove daily most unsure ; 
His covenant of grace for aye 

Thy Husband does secure. 

Dost thou to him thy promise break, 

And fear he break to thee? 
Nay, not thy thousand crimes can make 

Thy Husband once to lie. 

He visit will thy sins with strokes, 

And lift his heavy hand ; 
But never once his word revokes, 

Thy Husband's truth will stand. 

Then dream not he is chang'd in love, 
When thou art chang'd in frame : 

Thou mayst by turns unnumber'd move, 
Thy Husband's aye the same. 

He for thy follies may thee bind 

With cords of great distress ; 
To make thee moan thy sins and mind 

Thy Husband's holiness. 

By wounds he makes thee seek his cure, 

By frowns his favour prize ; 
By falls affrightening, stand more sure, 

Thy Husband is so wise. 

Proud Peter in the dirt of vice 

Fell down exceeding low ; 
His tow'ring pride, by tumbling thrice, 

Thy Husband cured so. 

* Heb. xiii. 5. 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 129 

Before he suffers pride that swells 

He'll drag thee through the mire 
Of sins, temptations, little hells ; 

Thy Husband saves by fire. 

He in afflictions mortar may 

Squeeze out Old Adam's juice, 
Till thou return to him, and say, 

Thy Husband is thy choice. 

Fierce billows may thy vessel toss, 

And crosses curses seem ; 
But that the curse has fled the cross, 

Thy Husband bids thee deem. 

Conclude not he in wrath disowns, 

When trouble thee surrounds ; 
These are his favourable frowns, 

Thy Husband's healing wounds. 

Yea, when he gives the deepest lash, 

Love leads the wounding hand ; 
His stroke, when sin has got a dash, 

Thy Husband will remand. 

SECTION IX Comfort to Believers, in Christ's rela- 
tions in his dying love, his glory in heaven, to which he will 
lead them through death, and supply with all necessaries by 
the way. 

Behold the patrimony broad 

That falls to thee by line ; 
In him thou art an heir of God, 

Thy Husband's Father's thine. 

He is of relatives a store, 

Thy Friend will help in thrall ; 
Thy Brother much, thy Father more, 

Thy Husband most of all. 

All these he does amass and share, 

In ways that most excel : 
'Mong all the husband's ever were, 

Thy Husband bears the bell. 



130 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

Whence run the streams of all thy good, 

But from his pierced side ? 
With liquid gold of precious blood 

Thy Husband bought his bride. 

His blood abundant value bore, 

To make his purchase broad ; 
'Twas fair divinity in gore, 

Thy Husband is thy God. 

Who purchas'd at the highest price, 
Be crown'd with highest praise ; 

For in the highest paradise 
Thy Husband wears the bays. 

He is of Heav'n the comely rose, 

His beauty makes it fair ; 
Heav'n were but hell, couldst thou suppose 

Thy Husband were not there. 

He thither did in pomp ascend, 

His spouse along to bring ; 
Then Hallelujahs without end, 

Thy Husband's bride may sing. 

Ev'n there, with him for ever fix'd, 

His glory shalt thou see ; 
And nought but death is now betwixt 

Thy Husband's throne and thee. 

He'll order death, that porter rude, 

To ope the gates of brass ; 
For lo ! with characters of blood, 

Thy Husband wrote thy pass. 

At Jordan deep then be not scar'd, 

Though dismal like and broad ; 
Thy sun will guide, thy shield will guard, 

Thy Husband pav'd the road, 

He'll lead thee safe, and bring thee home, 
And still let blessings fall 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 131 

Of grace while here, till glory come : 
Thy Husband's bound for all. 

His store can answer ev'ry bill, 

The food and raiment's bought : 
Be at his will, thou'lt have thy fill, 

Thy Husband wants for nought. 

What can thy soul conceive it lacks ? 

His store, his pow'r is thine ; 
His lib'ral heart to lib'ral acts, 

Thy Husband does incline. 

Though on thy hand, that has no might, 

He should thy task enlarge ; 
Nor works nor warfare needs thee fright, 

Thy Husband bears the charge. 

Thou wouldst (if left) thyself undo, 

So apt to fall and stray ; 
But he uplifts and leads thee too : 

Thy Husband knows the way. 

SECTION X Comfort to Believers from the text, Thy 

Maker is thy Husband, inverted thus, Thy Husband is 
thy Maker ; and the conclusion of this subject. 

Of light and life, of grace and glore, 

In Christ thou art partaker ; 
Bejoice in him for evermore, 

Thy Husband is thy Maker. 

He made thee, yea, made thee his bride, 

Nor needs thine ugly patch ; 
To what he made he'll still abide, 

Thy Husband made the match. 

He made all ; yea, he made all thine, 

All to thee shall be giv'n. 
Who can thy kingdom undermine ? 

Thy Husband made the heav'n. 

What earthly things can thee annoy ? 
He made the earth to be ; 



132 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

The waters cannot thee destroy, 
Thy Husband made the sea. 

Don't fear the flaming element 

Thee hurt with burning ire ; 
Or that the scorching heat torment : 

Thy Husband made the fire. 

Infectious streams shall ne'er destroy, 

While he is pleas'd to spare ; 
Thou shalt thy vital breath enjoy, 

Thy Husband made the air. 

The sun that guides the golden day, 

The moon that rules the night, 
The starry frame, the milky way, 

Thy Husband made for light. 

The bird that wings its airy path, 

The fish that cuts the flood, 
The creeping crowd that swarms beneath, 

Thy Husband made for good. 

The grazing herd, the beasts of prey, 

The creatures great and small, 
For thy behoof their tribute pay, 

Thy Husband made them all. 

Thine's Paul, Apollos, life, and death, 

Things present, things to be ; 
And ev'ry thing that being hath, 

Thy Husband made for thee. 

In Tophet, of the damn'd resort, 

Thy soul shall never dwell, 
Nor needs from thence imagine hurt, 

Thy Husband formed hell. 

Satan, with instruments of his, 

May rage, yet dread no evil ; 
So far as he a creature is, 

Thy Husband made the devil. 



THE BELIEVER'S JOINTURE. 133 

His black temptations may afflict, 

His fiery darts annoy ; 
But all his works, and hellish trick, 

Thy Husband will destroy. 

Let armies strong of earthly gods 

Combine with hellish ghosts, 
They live, or languish, at his nods : 

Thy Husband's Lord of hosts. 

What can thee hurt ? whom dost thou fear ? 

All things are at his call, 
Thy Maker is thy Husband dear, 

Thy Husband all in all. 

What dost thou seek ? what dost thou want ? 

He'll thy desire fulfil ; 
He gave himself, what won't he grant ? 

Thy Husband's at thy will. 

The more thou dost of him desire, 

The more he loves to give : 
High let thy mounting arms aspire, 

Thy Husband gives thee leave. 

The less thou seek'st, the less thou dost 

His bounty set on high ; 
But higher seekers here do most 

Thy Husband glorify. 

Would'st thou have grace ? Well ; but 'tis meet 

He should more glory gain. 
Would'st thou have Father, Son, and Sp'rit? 

Thy Husband says, Amen. 

He'll kindly act the lib'ral God, 

Devising lib'ral things ; 
With royal gifts his subjects load ; 

Thy Husband's King of kings. 

No earthly monarchs have such store 
As thou hast even in hand ; 



134 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART II. 

But, O how infinitely more 
Thy Husband gives on bond ! 

Thou hast indeed the better part, 

The part will fail thee never : 
Thy Husband's hand, thy Husband's heart, 

Thy Husband's all for ever. 



END OF THE POEM UPON ISAIAH liv. 5. 



GOSPEL SONNETS. 



PART III. 

THE BELIEYEE'S EIDDLE 

OR, THE 

MYSTERY OF FAITH. 



THE PREFACE; 

SHEWING THE USE AND DESIGN OF THE RIDDLE. 

Reader, the foll'wing enigmatic song, 

Does not to wisest nat'ralists belong : 

Their wisdom is but folly on this head : 

They here may ruminate, but cannot read. 

For tho' they glance the lines, the meaning chokes, 

They read the words, but not the paradox. 

The subject will, howe'er the phrase be blunt, 

The most acute intelligence surmount, 

If with the nat'ral and acquired sight 

They share not divine evangelic light. 

Great wits may rouse their fancies, rack their brains, 
And after all their labour, lose their pains; 
Their wisest comments were but witless chat, 
Unapt to frame an explication pat. 
No unregen'rate mortal's best ingines 
Can right unriddle these few rugged lines ; 
Nor any proper notions thereof reach, 
Though sublimated to the highest stretch. 
Masters of reason, plodding men of sense, 
Who scorn to mortify their vain pretence, 
In this mysterious deep might plod their fill ; 
It overtops the top of all their skill. 



136 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III 

The more they vainly huff, and scorn to read, 
The more it does their foolish wit exceed. 

Those sinners that are sanctified in part, 
May read this Riddle truly in their heart. 
Yea, weakest saints may feel its truest sense, 
Both in their sad and sweet experience. 
Don't overlook it with a rambling view, 
And rash suppose it neither good nor true. 
Let Heaven's pure oracles the truth decide : 
Renounce it, if it can't that test abide. 
Noble Bereans soon the sense may hit, 
Who sound the divine depth of sacred writ, 
Not by what airy carnal reason saith, 
But by the golden line of heaven-spun faith. 

Let not the naughty phrase make you disprove 
The weighty matter which deserves your love. 
High strains would spoil the Riddle's grand intent, 
To teach the weakest, most illiterate saint, 
That Mahanaim is his proper name ; 
In whom two struggling hosts make bloody game. 
That such may know, whose knowledge is but rude, 
How good consists with ill, and ill with good ; 
That saints be neither at their worst nor best, 
Too much exalted, or too much deprest. 

This paradox is fitted to disclose 
The skill of Zion's friends above her foes ; 
To difference, by light that Heaven transmits, 
Some happy fools from miserable wits. 
And thus (if blessed) it may in some degree 
Make fools their wit, and wits their folly see. 
Slight not the Riddle then with jargon vile, 
Because not garnished with a pompous style. 
Could th' author act the lofty poets' part 
Who make their sonnets soar on wings of art, 
He on this theme hath blushed to use his skill, 
And either dipt his wings, or broke his quill. 

Why, thus enigma climbs such divine heights, 
As scorn to be adorned with human flights. 
These gaudy strains would lovely truth disgrace, 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 13? 

As purest paint deforms a comely face. 

Heaven's mysteries are 'bove art's ornament, 

Immensely brighter than its brightest paint. 

No tow'ring lit'rature conld e'er outwit 

The plainest diction fetched from sacred writ. 

By which mere blazing rhet'ric is outdone 

As twinkling stars are by the radiant sun. 

The soaring orators, who can with ease 

Strain the quintessence of hyperboles, 

And clothe the barest theme with purest dress 

Might here expatiate much, yet say the less, 

If w' th' majestical simplicity 

Of scripture orat'ry they disagree. 

These lines pretend not to affect the sky, 
Content among inglorious shades to lie, 
Provided sacred truth be fitly clad, 
Or glorious shine ev'n through the dusky shade. 
Mark then, though you could miss the gilded strain, 
If they a store of golden truth contain : 
Nor under-rate a jewel rare and prime, 
Though wrapt up iu the rags of homely rhyme. 

Though haughty Deists hardly stoop to say, 
That nature's night has need of scripture-day ; 
Yet gospel-light alone will clearly show 
How ev'ry sentence here is just and true, 
Expel the shades that may the mind involve, 
And soon the seeming contradiction solve. 
All fatal errors in the world proceed 
From want of skill such mysteries to read. 
Vain men the double branch of truth divide, 
Hold by the one, and slight the other side. 

Hence proud Arminians cannot reconcile 
Freedom of grace with freedom of the will. 
The blinded Papist won't discern nor see 
How works are good, unless they justify. 
Thus Legalists distinguish not the odds 
Between their home-bred righteousness and God's* 
Antinomists the saints' perfection plead, 
Nor duly sever 'tween them and their head, 

K 



138 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

Socinians won't these seeming odds agree, 
How heav 9 n is bought, and yet salvation free. 
Bold Arians hate to reconcile or scan, 
How Christ is truly God and truly man : 
Holding the one part of Immanuel's name, 
The other part outrageously blaspheme. 
The sound in faith no part of truth control : 
Heretics own the half, but not the whole. 

Keep then the sacred myst'ry still entire ; 
To both the sides of truth do favour bear 
Not quitting one to hold the other branch ; 
But passing judgment on an equal bench ; 
The Riddle has two feet ; aud were but one 
Cut off, truth falling to the ground were gone ; 
*Tis all a contradiction, yet all true, 
And happy truth, if verify'd in you. 
Go forward then to read the lines, but stay 
To read the Riddle also by the way. 

SECTION I The mystery of the Saints' pedigree and 

especially of their relation to Christ's wonderful person. 

My life's a maze of seeming traps, a 
A scene of miseries and mishaps ; b 
A heap of jarring to and froes ; c 
A field of joys, a flood of woes, d 

a Josh. xxii. 13, And Joshua said, Know for a certainty, that 
the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from 
before you ; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scour- 
ges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, &c. Psalm cxxiv. 7, Our 
soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers j the snare 
is broken, and we are escaped. 

b Or miseries. Lam. iii. 19, Remembering mine affliction and 
my misery, the wormwood and the gall. v. 22, It is of the 
Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions 
fail not. Psalm ci. 1, I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto 
thee, O Lord, will I sing. 

c Psalm ex. 10, Thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. 
Psalm cix. 23, I am tossed up and down as the locust. 

d Hab. iii. 17, 18, Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, 
aeither shall fruit be in the vines, the labour of the olive shall fail, 
ahd the fields shall yield no meat, the flocks shall be cut off from the 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 139 

I'm in mine own and others eyes, 

A labyrinth of mysteries, e 

I'm something that from nothing came ;f 

Yet sure it is, I nothing am. g 

Once I was dead, and blind, and lame, k 
Yea, I continue still the same ; i 
Yet what I was, I am no more, k 
Nor ever shall be as before. / 



fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls ; yet will I rejoice in 
the Lord, I willjoy in the God of my salvation. 

e Isa. viii. 18, Behold I and the children whom the Lord hath 
given me, are for signs, and for wonders in Israel; from the Lord 
of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. Zech. iii. 8, Hear now, 

Joshua, the high priest, thou and thy fellows that set before thee ; 
for they are men wondered at, &c. Psalm lxxi. 7, I am as a won- 
der unto many, but thou art my strong refuge. 

f Gen. i. 1, In the beginning God created the heaven and the 
earth. Heb. xi. 3, Through faith we understand that the worlds 
were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were 
not made of things which do appear. 

g Isa. xli. 17, All nations before him are as nothing, and they 
are accounted to him less than nothing and vanity. Dan. iv. 35. 
All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. 

h Eph. ii. 3, And you hath he quickened, who were dead in 
trespasses and sins. Rev. iii. 17, Because thou sayest, I am rich, 
and increased in goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not 
that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and 
naked. Isa. xxxv. 6, Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and 
the tongue of the dumb sing ; for in the wilderness shall waters 
break out, and streams in the desert. 

i Rom. vii. 14, For we know that the law is spiritual ; but I am 
carnal, sold under sin. v. 24, O wretched man that I am, who 
shall deliver me from the body of this death? 

k Rom. vii. 17, Now then, it is no more I that do it, but sin that 
dwelleth in me. v. 20, Now if I do that I would not, it is no more 

1 that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. John ix. 25, He (the 
blind man) answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know 
not ; one thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see. 

Z Rom. xi. 29, For the gifts and calling of God are without re- 
pentance. Jer. xxxii. 40, And I will make an everlasting covenant 
with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good ; but 
I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from ra&. 

k2 



140 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

My father lives,w? my father's gone, n 
My vital iiead hoth lost and won, o 
My parents cruel are and kind,jt> 
Of one, and of a cliffrent mind, q 

My father poison'd me to death,/* 
My mother's hand will stop my breath, s 
Her womb, that once my substance gave, 
Will very quickly be my grave, t 

My sisters all my flesh will eat, u 
My brethren tread me under feet ; v 

m Tsa. ix. 6, His name shall be called — The everlasting Father. 
Rev. i. 18, I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am 
alive for evermore. Amen. 

n Hos. xiv. 3, In thee the fatherless findeth mercy. Zech. i. 5, 
Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever? 

o 1 Cor. xv. 45, It is written, The first man Adam was made a 
living soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 

p Psalm ciii. 13, Like as a father pitieth his children ; so the 
Lord pitieth them that fear him. Isa. xliii. 27, Thy first father hath 
sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me. 

q Job xxiii. 13, But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? 
and what his soul desireth, even that he doth. Rom. viii. 5, For 
they that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh ; but 
they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit, v. 7, Because 
the carnal mind is enmity against God : for it is not subject to the 
law of God, neither indeed can be. 

r Rom. v. 12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the 
world, and death by sin : and so death passed upon all men ; for that 
all have sinned. 

s Gen. iii. 16, Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply 
thy sorrow, and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth 
children, &c. 

t Psalm cxlvi. 4, His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his 
earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Eccl. ii. 20, All go 
unto one place, all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 

u Job xvii. 14, I have said to corruption, Thou art my father ; 
to the worm, Thou art my mother and my sister. Chap. xix. 26, 
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh 
shall I see God. 

v Even in a moral sense. Jer. xii. 10, Many pastors have de- 
stroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they 
have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness, Ezek. xxxiv. 
18, Seemeth it a small thing unto you, to have eaten up the good 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 141 

My nearest friends are most unkind, w 
My greatest foe's my greatest friend, x 

He could from feud to friendship pass, 
Yet never change from what he was.y 
He is my Father, he alone, 
Who is my Father's only Son, z 

I am his mother's son, a yet more, 
A son his mother b never bore, 

pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your 
pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul 
the residue with your feet? 

w Psalm lv. 12, 13, For it was uot an enemy that reproached me, 
then I could have borne it ; neither was it he that hated me, that 
did magnify himself against me, then I could have hid myself from 
him. But it was thou, a. man, mine equal, my guide, and mine ac- 
quaintance. Mic. vii. 5, 6, Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not 
confidence in a guide ; keep the doors of thy mouth from her that 
lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, the 
daughter riseth up against the mother, the daughter-in-law against 
her mother-in-law : a man's enemies are the men of his own house. 

x Psalm vii. 11, God is angry with the wicked every day. 2 Cor. 
v. 19, God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not 
imputing their trespasses unto them. 

y Mai. iii. 16, For I am the Lord, 1 change not; therefore ye 
sons of Jacob are not consumed. Hos. xiv. 4, I will heal their 
backsliding, I will love them freely ; for mine anger is turned away 
from him. 

z John xx. 17, Jesus said unto her (Mary,) Touch me not; for I 
am not yet ascended unto my Father : but go to my brethren, and 
say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to 
my God and your God. Isa. ix. 6, Unto us a Son is given : — and 
his name shall be called — the everlasting Father. John i. 14, And 
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his 
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace 
and truth. 

a Song iii 4, It was but a little that I passed from them, but I 
found him whom my soul loveth : I held him, and would not let him 
go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the 
chamber of her that conceived me. v. 1 1, Go forth, O ye daughters 
of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his 
mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of 
the gladness of his heart. 

b viz. His natural mother according to the flesh* 

K 3 



142 GOSPEL SONNETS [PART III. 

But born of him.c and yet aver 

His Father's sons my mother's were, d 

I am divorc'd, yet marry'd still e 
With full consent against my wilLy* 
My husband present is, g yet gone, k 
We differ much, yet still are one, i 

He is the first, the last, the all, k 
Yet numbered up with insects small. / 
The first of all things, myet alone, 
The second of the great Three-one. n 

A creature never could he be, 
Yet is a creature strange I see ; o 

c John i. 13, Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of 
the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

d Gal. iv. 26, But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the 
mother of us all. 

e Rom. vii. 4. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead 
to the law by the body of Christ ; and that ye should be married to 
another, even to him who is raised from the dead. 

f Psalm ex. 3, Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power. 

g Matt, xxviii. 20, Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end 
of the world. 

h John xiv. 2, I go to prepare a place for you, 

i John xvii. 21, That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art 
in me, and I in thee ; that they also may be one in us. 

k Rev. i. 11, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, 
Col. iii. U, Christ is all, and in all. 

Z Psalm xxii. 6, But I am a worm, and no man. 

m Col. v. 15, 16, Who is the image of the invisible God, the 
first-born of every creature ; for by him were all things created that 
are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether 
they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers ; all things 
were created by him, and for him. 

n 1 John v. 7, For there are three that bear record in heaven, 
the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost ; and these three are one. 
Matt, xxviii. 18, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing 
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Ghost. 

o John i. 2, 3, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word 
was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the be- 
ginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him 
was not any thing made that was made. v. 14, And the Word was 
made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory 
as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 148 

And own this uncreated one, 

The son of man, yet no man's son.j? 

He's omnipresent all may know ; q 
Yet never could be wholly so. r 
His manhood is not here and there, $ 
Yet he is God- man ev'ry where, t 

He conies and goes, none can him trace ; u 
Yet never could he change his place v 
But though he's good, w and ev'ry where, 
No good's in hell. yet he is there, x 

I by him, y in him z chosen was, a 
Yet of the choice he's not the cause : b 

p Matt. i. 23, Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring 
forth a son, and they shall call his name Emanuel, which being 
interpreted is, God with us. Luke i. 34, 35, Then said Mary unto 
the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the 
angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon 
thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee ; therefore 
also that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the 
Son of God. 

q Psalm cxxxix. 7 — 10, Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or, 
whither shall I flee from thy presence ? If I ascend up into heaven, 
thou art there ; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If 
I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of 
the sea ; even there shall thy hand find me, and thy right hand shall 
hold me. 

r Luke xxiv. 6, He is not here, but is risen. 

s John xvi. 16, A little while and ye shall not see me ; and again 
a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 

t Matt. i. 13, See letter/?. Chap, xxviii. 20, Lo 1 am with you 
always, even unto the end of the world. 

u John iii. 8, The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest 
the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither 
it goeth ; so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 

v Isa. lxvi. 1, Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, 
and the earth is my footstool ; where is the house that ye build unto 
me ? and where is the place of my rest ? 

w Psalm c. 5, The Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting. 

x Psalm cxxxix. 8, If I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. 

y As God. z As Mediator. 

a Eph. v. 4, According as he hath chosen us in him before the 
foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame 
before him in love. 

h But himself the Father's first elect, Isa. xlii. 1, Behold my 



144 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III* 

For sovereign merry ne'er was bought, c 
Yet through his blood a vent is sought, d 

In him concenter'd at his death 
His Father's love, e his Father's wrath ;f 
Ev'n he whom passion never seiz'd, g 
Was then most angry when most pleas'd. h 

Justice requir'd that he should die, i 
Who yet was slain unrighteously ; k 

servant, whom 1 uphold ; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. 
Matt. xii. 18, Behold, my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, 
in whom my soul is well pleased. 

c John iii. 16, God so loved the world, that he gave his only be- 
gotten Son, &c. Rom. ix. 11, For the children being not yet born, 
neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God accor- 
ding to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth. 
v, 13, It is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 
v. 15, God saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have 
mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 

d Rom. iii. 24, 25, Being justified freely by his grace, through 
the redemption that is in Jesus Christ; whom God hath set forth to 
be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteous- 
ness for the remission of sins, &c. Chap. v. 9, Being justified by 
his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. v. 21, That 
as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through 
righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

e John x. 17, Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay 
down my life, that I might take it again. 

/' Isa. liii. 10, Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him ; he hath put 
him to grief. 

g Isa. xxvii. 4, Fury is not in me. 

h Rom. viii. 23, He spared not his own Son, but delivered him 
up for us all. Eph, v. 2, Christ hath given himself for us, an of- 
fering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. 

i Heb. vii. 22, By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better 
testament. Chap. ix. 16, For where a testament is, there must also 
of necessity be the death of the testator, v. 22, 23, And almost all 
things are by the law purged with blood ; and without shedding of 
blood there is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the 
patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these ; but 
the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 

k Matt, xxvii. 4, I [Judas] have sinned, in that I have betrayed 
the innocent blood, v. 23. And the governor said, Why, what evil 
hath he done ? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be 
crucified. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 145 

And died in mercy and in wrath, 
A lawful and a lawless death. / 

With him I neither liv'd nor died, 
And yet with him was crucify'd. m 
Law-curses stopt his breath, that he 
Might stop its mouth from cursing me. n 

"Pis now a thousand years and more 
Since heav'n receiv'd him ; yet I know, 
When he ascended up on high 
To mount the throne, ev'n so did I. o 

Hence though earth's dunghill I embrace, 
I sit with him in heav'nly place, p 
In divers distant orbs I move, 
Inthrall'd below, inthron'd above. 

SECTION II The mystery of the saint's life, state and 

frame. 

My life's a pleasure a and a pain ; b 
A real loss, a real gain ; c 

I Acts ii. 23, Jesus of Nazareth being delivered by the determi- 
nate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by 
wicked hands have crucified and slain. Chap. iv. 27, For of a 
truth the holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod 
and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were 
gathered together, &c. 

m Gal. ii. 20, I am crucified with Christ. 

n Gal. iii. 13, Christ hath redeemed us from^ the curse of the 
law, being made a curse for us : for it is written, ) Cursed is every 
one that hangeth on a tree. 

o Col. iii. 1, If ye then be risen with Christ, &c. Heb. iv. 20, 
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, &c. 

p Eph. ii. 5, 6, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quick- 
ened us together with Christ, and hath raised us up together, and 
made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 

a Prov. iii. 17, Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her 
paths are peace. 

b Psalm cxx. 7, Wo is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I 
(hvell in the tents of Kedar. 

c Phil. iii. 7, But what things were gain to me, those I counted 
loss for Christ. Chap. i. 21, — 24. For me to live is Christ, and 



146 GOSPEL SONNETS, [PART III. 

A glorious paradise of joys, d 
A grievous prison of annoys, e 

I daily joy, and daily mourn, f 
Yet daily wait the tide's return : g 
Then sorrow deep my spirit cheers, 
I'm joyful in a flood of tears, h 

to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my la- 
bour ; yet what I shall choose I wot not ; for I am in a straight be- 
twixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which 
is far better; nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for 
you. 

d 1 Pet. i, 8, Whom having not seen, ye love ; in whom though 
now ye see him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable 
and full of glory. 

e Psalm cxliii. 7, Bring my soul out of prison that I may praise 
thy name. 

f 1 Pet. i. 6, Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a sea- 
son, (if need be) ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. 
2 Cor. i, 4. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may 
be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort 
wherewith 'we ourselves are comforted of God. Job xxx. 28, I 
went mourning without the sun, &c. 

g Isa. viii. 17, And I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face 
from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 

h Zech. xii. 10, And I will pour upon the house of David, and 
upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and supplica- 
tion ; and they shall look upon him whom they have pierced, and 
they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and 
shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his 
first-born. Ezek. xxxvi. 31, 32, Then shall ye remember your 
own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe 
yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities, and for your abomi- 
nations. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it 
known unto you ; be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, 
O house of Israel. Hos. xii. 3, 4, He [Jacob] took his brother by 
the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God, 
yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed ; he wept and made 
supplication unto him ; he found him in Bethel, and there he spake 
with us. Luke vii. 38, And (a woman which was a sinner) stood 
at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with 
tears, and did vvipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his 
feet, and anointed them with the ointment. John xx. 15, 16, Jesus 
saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou ? whom seekest thou ? 
she, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou 
have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 147 

Good cause I have still to be sad, i 
Good reason always to be glad, k 
Hence still my joys with sorrows meet, I 
And still my tears are bitter sweet, m 

I'm cross'd, and yet have all my will; n 
I'm always empty, always full, o 
I hunger now, and thirst no more, p 
Yat do more eager than before, q 



take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary ; she turned herself, 
and saith unto him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master, v. 23, Then 
were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. 

i Rom. vii. 24, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me 
from the body of this death. 

k 2 Cor. ii. 14, Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to 
triumph in Christ. 

I 2 Cor. vi. 20, As sorrowful ; yet always rejoicing. 

m Zech. xii. 10. See letter h. Psalm cxxvi. 5, They that sow 
in tears, shall reap in joy. Isa. Ixi. 2, 3, The Lord hath sent me to 
comfort all that mourn ; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, 
to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the 
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, &c. Matt. v. 4, Bles- 
sed are they that mourn : for they shall be comforted. 

n Luke xxii. 42, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from 
me : nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. Acts xxi. 14, 
And when he [Paul] would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The 
will of the Lord be done. 

o 2 Cor. vi. 10, As having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 

p John vi. 35, And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life, 
he that cometh to me shall never hunger ; and he that believeth on 
me shall never thirst. 

q Psalm xlii. 1,2, As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so 
panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for 
the living God : when shall I come and appear before God ? and 
lxiii. I, O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee : my soul 
thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty 
land, where no water is. And lxxiii. 25, Whom have I in heaven 
but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. 
Isa. xxvi. 8, 9, Yea in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we 
waited for thee ; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the 
remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the 
night, yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early. 



148 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

With meat and drink indeed I'm blest, r 
Yet feed on hunger, drink on thirst, s 
My hunger brings a plenteous store, t 
My plenty makes me hunger more, u 

Strange is the place of my abode, 
I dwell at home, I dwell abroad, v 
I am not where all men may see, 
But where I never yet could be. w 



r John vi. 35, For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink 
indeed. 

s Job xxix. 2, 34, Oh that I were as in months past, as in the 
days when God preserved me, when his candle shined upon my 
head, and when by his light I walked through darkness ; as I was in 
the days of my youth when the secret of God was upon my taber- 
nacle. Psalm lxxvii. 10 — 12, I will remember the years of the 
right hand of the Most High, I will remember the works of the 
Lord ; surely I will remember the wonders of old. I will meditate 
also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Song v. 8, I charge 
you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If ye find my Beloved, that ye tell 
him that I am sick of love. Chap. viii. 1, O that thou wert as my 
brother that sucked the breasts of my mother ! when I should find 
thee without, I would kiss thee, yea, I should not be despised. 

t Matt. v. 6, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after 
righteousness, for they shall be filled. 

u 2 Cor. v. 2, For in this we groan earnestly, desiring to be 
clothed upon with our house which is from heaven, Phil. i. 23, 
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to 
be with Christ ; which is far better, &c. Song ii. 3 — 5, I sat 
down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet 
unto my taste. He brought me into the banqueting house, and his 
banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with 
apples : for I am sick of love. 

v Job iv. 19, How much less them that dwell in houses of clay, 
whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth. 
Psalm xc. 1, Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all gene- 
rations; and xci. 1, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most 
High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 1 John iv. 16, 
God is love ; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and 
God in him. 

w Isa. xxxiii. 16, He shall dwell on high; hi§ place of defence 
shall be the munition of rocks. Eph. ii. 6, And hath raised us up 
together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 149 

I'm full of hell, x yet full of heav'n ; y 
I'm still upright, z yet still unev'n ; a 
Imperfect, b yet a perfect saint ; c 
I'm ever poor, d yet never want, e 

No mortal eye sees God and lives \f 
Yet sight of him my soul revives, g 
I live best when I see most bright ; h 
Yet live by faith, and not by sight, i 



x Eccl. ix 13, The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and 
madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to 
the dead. 

y Eph. iii. 19, And to know the love of Christ, which passeth 
knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 

z Psalm xviii. 23, I was also upright before him ; and I kept 
myself from mine iniquity. 

a Ezek. xviii. 25, Hear now O house of Israel, are not your ways 
unequal ? 

b Rev. iii. 2, Be watchful, and strengthen the things which re- 
main, that are ready to die ; for I have not found thy works per- 
fect before God. 

c 1 Cor. ii. 6, Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are 
perfect^ &c. 

d Psalm xl. 17, But I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh 
upon me. 

e Psalm xxiii. 1, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. And 
xxxiv. 10, The lions young do lack and do suffer hunger ; but they 
that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. 

yExod. xxxiii. 20, And he said, Thou canst not see my face; 
for there shall no man see me and live. 

g John vi. 40, And this is the will of him that sent me, that every 
one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlast- 
ing life. Chap. xx. 30, Then were the disciples glad when they 
saw the Lord. 

h 2 Cor. iii. 18, But we all with open face beholding as in a glass 
the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory 
to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Chap. iv. 6, For God 
who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in 
our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God 
in the face of Jesus Christ. 

i Gal. ii. 20, I am crucified with Christ ; nevertheless I live, yet 
not I, but Christ liveth in me ; and the life which I now live in the 
flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave 
himself for me. 2 Cor. v. 7, For we walk by faith, not by sight. 



150 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

I'm lib'ral, k yet have nought to spare ; / 
Most richly cloth'd,m yet stript and bare, n 
My stock is risen by my fall ; o 
For, having nothing, I have all./? 

Fm sinful, q yet I have no sin ; r 
All spotted o'er, s yet wholly clean, i 
Blackness and beauty both I share ; 
A hellish black, a heavenl)' fair, u 



k Psalm xxvii. 21, The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again ; 
but the righteous sheweth mercy and giveth. 

/ Zeph. iii. 12, I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted 
and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. 

m Isa. lxi. 10, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall 
he joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of 
salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a 
bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth 
herself with her jewels. 

n Ezek. xvi. 7, I have caused thee to multiply as the bed of the 
field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come 
to excellent ornaments ; thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is 
grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Rev. iii. 17, Because 
thou sayest, 1 am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of 
nothing ; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, 
and poor, and blind, and naked. 

o Rom. viii. 28, And we know that all things work together for 
good to them that love God, to them who are the called according 
to his purpose. 

p 2 Cor. vi. 10, As having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 

q Rom. vii. 14, For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am 
carnal, sold under sin. v. 24, O wretched man that I am, who 
shall deliver me from the body of this death ? 

r Numb, xxiii. 21, He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, nei- 
ther hath he seen perverseness in Israel. 1 John iii. 9, Whosoever 
is born of God, doth not commit sin ; for his seed remaineth in him ; 
and he cannot sin because he is born of God. 

5 Psalm xiv. 3, They are all gone aside, they are altogether be- 
come filthy : there is none that doeth good, no not one. 

t Song iv. 7, Thou art fair, my love, there is no spot in thee. 

u Song i. 5, I am black but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, 
as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon, v. 15, Behold, 
thou art fair, my love ; behold, thou art fair, thou hast doves eyes. 



tHE believer's riddle. 151 

They're of the devil who sin amain :v 
But I'm of God, yet sin retain : w 
This traitor vile the throne assumes, x 
Prevails, yet never overcomes, y 

I'm without guile an Isra'lite ; z 
Yet like a guileful hypocrite ; a 
Maintaining truth in th' inward part, b 
With falsehood rooted in my heart, c 

Two masters sure, I canuot serve, d 
But must from one regardless swerve ; 
Yet self is for my master known, e 
And Jesus is my Lord alone, f 

v 1 John iii. 8, He that committeth sin, is of the devil ; for the 
devil sinneth from the beginning. 

w 1 John i. 8, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive our- 
selves, and the truth is not in us. 

x Rom. vii. 23, But I see another law in my members, warring 
against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the 
law of sin which is in my members. 

y Psalm lxv. 3, Iniquities prevail against me : as for our trans- 
gressions, thou shalt purge them away. Rom. vi. 14, For sin shall 
not have dominion over you ; for ye are not under the law, but 
under grace. 

z John i. 42, Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him, and saith of 
him, Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile. Psalm xxxii. 2, 
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and 
in whose spirit there is no guile. 

a Psalm xix. 12, Who can understand his errors ? cleanse thou 
me from secret faults. 

b Psalm li. 6, Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts ; 
and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 

c Matt. xv. 19, For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, mur- 
ders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false-witness, blasphemies. 

d Matt. vi. 24, No man can serve two masters : for either he will 
hate the one, and love the other ; or else he will hold to the one, 
and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

e Hos. x. 1, Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto 
himself: according to the multitude of his fruit, he hath increased 
the altars ; according to the goodness of his land, they have made 
goodly images. Matt. xvi. 24, Then said Jesus unto his disciples, 
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up 
his cross and follow me. 

/Isa. xxvi. 13, O Lord our God, other lords beside thee have 



152 GOSPEL SONNETS* [PART III. 

I seek myself incessantly, g 
Yet daily do myself deny, h 
To me 'tis lawful evermore 
Myself to love and to abhor, i 

In this vain world I live, yet see 
I'm dead to it and it to me. k 
My joy is endless,/ yet at best 
Does hardly for a moment last, m 



had dominion over us ; but by thee only will we make mention of 
thy name. John xx. 28, And Thomas answered and said unto him, 
My Lord, and my God. 

g James iv. 3, Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, 
that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Jer. xlv. 2, 5, Thus saith 
the Lord God of Israel unto thee, O Baruch, and seekest thou great 
things for thyself? Seek them not; for behold 1 will bring evil 
upon all flesh, saith the Lord ; but thy life will I give unto thee for 
a prey in all places whither thou goest. 

h Matt. xvi. 24, See letter e. 

i Lev. xix. 18, Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against 
the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself 
— I am the Lord. Eph. v. 29, For no man ever hated his own 
flesh ; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church. 
John xii. 25, He that loveth his life shall lose it : and he that loseth 
his life in this world, shall keep it unto eternal life. Job xlii. 6, 
"Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. 

k Col. iii. 3, For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in 
God. Gal. vi. 14, But God forbid that I should glory, save in the 
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto 
me, and I unto the world. 

/ John xvi. 22, And ye now therefore have sorrow : but I will 
see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man 
taketh from you. 2 Thess. ii. 16, Now our Lord Jesus Christ him- 
self, and God the Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us 
everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, &c. 

m Psalm xxx. 7, Lord, by thy favour, thou hast made my moun- 
tain to stand strong : thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. 
Isa. xlix. 13, 14, Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth; and 
break forth into singing, O mountains ; for the Lord hath comforted 
his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, 
The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 153 



SECTION III Mysteries about the saints' work and war* 

fare, their sins, sorrows, and joys. 

The work is great I'm call'd unto, a 
Yet nothing's left for me to do : b 
Hence for my work Heav'n has prepar'd 
No wages, c yet a great reward, d 

To works, but not to working dead : e 
From sin, but not from sinning freed :f 
I clear myself from no offence, g 
Yet wash mine hands in innocence, h 



a Phil. ii. 12, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, 
not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence ; work 
out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 

b Phil. ii. 13, For it is God which worketh in you, both to will 
and to do of his good pleasure. Lev. xx. 7, 8, Sanctify yourselves 
therefore, and be ye holy ; for I am the Lord your God. And ye 
shall keep my statute?, and do them : 1 am the Lord which sanctify 
you. 

c Rom. vi. 23, For the wages of sin is death ; but the gift of God 
is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Chap. xi. 6, And if 
by grace, then is it no more of works ; otherwise grace is no more 
grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace; otherwise 
work is no more work. 

d Psalm xix. 11, Moreover, by them [the judgments of the Lord] 
is thy servant warned ; and in keeping of them there is a great re- 
ward. Psalm lviii. 11, Verily there is a reward for the righteous; 
verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. 

e Rom. vii. 4, Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead 
to the law by the body of Christ ; and that ye should be married to 
another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should 
bring forth fruit unto God. Gal. ii. 19, For I through the law am 
dead to the law, that 1 might live unto God. 

f\ John i. 8, If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, 
and the truth is not in us. Chap. iii. 9, Whosoever is born of God, 
doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him ; and he cannot 
sin, because he is born of God. 

g Rom. vii. 18, For I know that, in me (that is, in my flesh, ) 
dwelleth no good thing ; for to will is present with me ; but how to 
perform that which is good, I find not. 

h Psalm xxvi. 6, I will wash my hands in innocence ; so will I 
compass thine altar, Lord. 

L 



154 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III, 

My Father's anger burns like fire, i 
Without a spark of furious ire : k 
Though still my sins displeasing be, I 
Yet still I know he's pleased with me. m 

Triumphing is my constant trade, n 
Who yet am oft a captive led. o 
My bloody war does never cease, p 
Yet I mantain a stable peace, q 

My foes assaulting conquer me, 
Yet ne'er obtain the victory ; r 
For all my battles lost or won, 
Were gain'd before they were begun, s 

i 1 Kings xi. 9, And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because 
his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had ap- 
peared unto him twice. 

k Isa. xxvii. 4, Fury is not in me. Chap. liv. 9, 10, For this is 
as the waters of Noah unto me : for as I have sworn that the waters 
of Noah should no more go over the earth : so Lave I sworn that I 
would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains 
shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not 
depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed 
saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. 

Z Hab. i. 13, Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and 
canst not look on iniquity. Jer. xliv. 4, Howbeit, I send unto you 
all my servants the prophets, rising early, and sending them, saying, 
O do not this abominable thing that I hate. 

m Matt. iii. 17, And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my 
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Rom. v. 10, When we 
were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. 

n 2 Cor. ii. 11, Now thanks be unto God which always causeth 
us to triumph in Christ. 

o Rom. vii. 23, But I see another law in my members, warring 
against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the 
law of sin, which is in my members. 

p Rom. vii. 23, See letter o. 1 Tim. vi. 12, Fight the good 
fight of faith, &c. Gal. v. 17, For the flesh lusteth against the 
Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh ; and these are contrary the 
one to the other ; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

q Rom. v. 1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace 
with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Isa. liv. 10, See letter k. 

r Rom. vii. 23. See letter o. Chap. viii. 37, Nay, in all these 
things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. 

s 1 Cor. xv. 57, But thanks be to God, which giveth us the 
victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ 



*THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 155 

I'm still at ease, and still opprest ; 
Have constant trouble, constant rest ; t 
Both clear and cloudy, u free and bound ; v 
Both dead and living,^ lost and found, x 

She for rny good does work and win ; y 
Yet 'tis not good for me to sin, z 
My pleasure issues from my pain ; a 
My losses still increase my gain, h 

t 2 Cor. iv. 8, We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed ; 
we are perplexed, but not in despair. John xvi. 33, These things 
have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the 
world ye shall have tribulation ; but be of good cheer, I have over- 
come the world. Heb. iv. 3, For we which have believed, do enter 
into rest. 

u Zech. xiv. 6, 7-, And it shall come to pass in that day that the 
light shall not be clear, nor dark. But it shall be one day, which 
shall be known to the Lord, not day nor night ; but it shall come to 
pass, that at evening time it shall be light. Mic. vii. 8, Rejoice not 
against me, O mine enemy ; when I fall, I shall arise ; when I sit 
in darkness, the Lord shall be light unto me. 

v John viii. 36, If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall 
be free indeed. Acts xx. 23, The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every 
city, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me. 

w 2 Cor. vi. 9, As dying, and behold we live. Col. ill. 3, For 
ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

x Matt, xviii. 1 1 , For the Son of Man is come to save that which 
was lost. Psalm cxix. 176* I have gone astray like a lost sheep, 
seek thy servant. Phil. iii. 9, And be found in him, not having 
mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is 
through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by 
faith. 

y Rom. viii. 28, And we know that all things work together for 
good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to 
his purpose. Chap. xi. 11,1 say then, Have they stumbled, that 
they should fall ? God forbid ; but rather through their fall salva- 
tion is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousv. 

z Psalm lxxxix. 31, 32, If they break my statues, and keep not 
my commandments, then will I visit their transgressions with the 
rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 

a Psalm cxix. 67, Before I was afflicted, I went astray ; but now 
have I kept thy word. v. 71, It is good for me that I have been 
afflicted ; that I might learn thy statues. James i. 2, My brethren^, 
count it all joy when you fall into divers tempations. 

b Matt. x. 39, He that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it a - 
L 2 



156 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III, 

I'm heaPd ev'n when my plagues abound, c 
Cover'd with dust ev'n when I'm crown'd : d 
As low as death when living high, e 
Nor shall I live, yet cannot die./ 

For all my sins my heart is sad, 
Since God's dishonour'd g yet I'm glad, 
Though once I was a slave to sin h 
Since God does thereby honour win. i 

Mark x. 29, 30, And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto 
you, There is no man hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or fa- 
ther, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and 
the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundred-fold now in this 
time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, 
and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come, eternal life. 

c Rom. vii. 24, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me 
from the body of this death ? I thank God, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. 

d viz. with mercy, Job xlii. 5, 6, I have heard of thee by the 
hearing of the ear ; but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I 
abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Ezek. xxi. 63, That 
thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth 
any more, because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for 
all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God. 

e 2 Cor. vi. 9, As dying and behold we live. 

yHeb. ix. 27, It is appointed to men once to die. John v. 24, 
Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth my word and believeth 
on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into 
condemnation ; but is passed from death unto life. Chap. vi. 40, 
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth 
the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life. v. 50, 
51, This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man 
may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came 
down from heaven ; if any man eat of this bread he shall live for 
ever ; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give 
for the life of the world. 

g Psalm li. 4, Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done 
this evil in thy sight. 

h Rom. vi. 17, But God be thanked, that ye were the servants 
of sin ; but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine 
which was delivered unto you. 

i Isa. xli. 24, Sing, O ye heavens ; for the Lord hath done it : 
Shout ye lower parts of the earth : break forth into singing ye moun- 
tains, O forests, and every tree therein ; for the Lord hath redeemed 
Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. Eph. i. 6, To the praise of 
the glory of his grace, v. 12, That we should be to the praise of 
his glory. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 157 

My sins are ever in his eye, k 
Yet he beholds no sin in me ; I 
His mind that keeps them all in store, 
Will yet remember them no more, m 

Because my sins are great, I feel 
Great fears of heavy wrath ; n yet still 
For mercy seek, for pardon wait, 
Because my sins are very great, o 

I hope when plung'd into despair, p 
I tremble when I have no fear q 

k Rev. iii. 1, I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou 
livest, and art dead. v. 15, I know thy works, that thou art neither 
cold nor hot. 

/ Numb, xxiii. 21, He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither 
hath he seen perverseness in Israel. Song iv. 7, Thou art all fair, 
ray love, there is no spot in thee. Ezek. xvi. 14, And thy renown 
went forth among the heathen for thy beauty, for it was perfect 
through my comeliness which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord 
God. 

m Isa. xliii. 25, I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgres- 
sions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Jer. 
xxxi. 34, I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their 
sins no more. Heb. viii. 12, I will be merciful to their unrighte- 
ousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 

n Ezra ix. 13, 14, And after all that is come upon us for our evil 
deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast 
punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such 
deliverance as this, should we again break thy commandments, and 
join in affinity with the people of these abominations ? wouldst not 
thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there 
should be no remnant escaping? Psalm xxxviii. 2, O Lord, re- 
buke me not in thy wrath ; neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 

o Psalm xxv. 11, For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine 
iniquity ; for it is great. Jer. xiv. 7, O Lord though our iniquities 
testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake ; for our backslid- 
ings are many, we have sinned against thee. 

p Rom. iv. 18, Who [Abraham] against hope believed in hope. 
2 Cor. i. 8, 9, For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of 
our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of 
measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life : 
but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not 
trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead. 

q Phil. ii. 12, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, 
L 3 



158 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III, 

Pardons dispel my griefs and fears, r 
And yet dissolves my heart in tears, s 

SECTION IV. — Mysteries in Faith's extractions, way and 

walk, prayers and answers, heights and depths, fear and 

love. 

With wasps and bees, my busy bill 
Sucks ill from good, and good from ill ; a 
Humility makes pride to grow, 
And pride aspiring lays me low. b 

not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence ; 
work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Luke i. 74, That 
he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of 
our enemies, might serve him without fear. 

r Matt. ix. 2, Jesus said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of 
good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee. 

s Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 26, Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, 
and ye shall be clean ; from all your filthiness, and from all your 
idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a 
new spirit will I put within you ; and I will take away the stony 
heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh, v. 31, 
Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that 
•were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your 
own iniquities, and for your abominations. Chap. xvi. 63. That 
thou mayst remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth 
any more, because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for 
all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God. 

a Rom. ii. 4, Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and 
forbearance, and long-suffering: not knowing that the goodness of 
God leadeth thee to repentance? Chap. vi. 1, 2, What shall we say 
then ? shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound ? God forbid ; 
how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein? v. 15, 
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but un- 
der grace? God forbid. Chap. viii. 28, And we know that all 
things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who 
are the called according to his purpose. Phil. i. 12, But I would ye 
should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto 
me, have fallen out unto the furtherance of the gospel. Psalm cxix. 
71, It is good for me that I have been afflicted ; that I might learn 
thy statutes, 

b 2 Cor. xii. 7, And lest I should be exalted above measure, 
through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a 
thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should 
be exalted above measure. Prov. xxix. 23, A man's pride shall bring 
|nni low ; but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. 2 Chron. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 159 

My standing" does my fall procure, c 
My falling makes me stand more sure, d 
My poison does my physic prove, e 
My enmity provokes my love.jf 

My poverty infers my wealth, g 
My sickness issties in my health : h 
My hardness tends to make me soft, i 
And killing things do cure me oft. k 

xxxii. 26, Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, (both 
he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,) so that the wrath of the Lord 
came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. 

c Psalm xxx. 6, 7, Aud in my prosperity I said, I shall never be 
moved. Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand 
strong; thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. 

d Prov. xxiv. 16, For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth 
up again. Psalm xxxvii. 24, Though he fall, he shall not be utterly 
cast down ; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. 

e 2 Cor. xii. 7, 8, And lest I should be exalted above measure, 
through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a 
thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should 
be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord 
thrice, that it might depart from me. Isa. xxvii. 8, 9, In measure 
when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it ; he stayeth his rough 
wind in the day of his east wind. By this, therefore, shall the ini- 
quity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away his sin. 

/Gal. v. 27, The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit 
against the flesh, v. 24, And they that are Christ's, have crucified 
the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

g Rev. ii. 9, I know thy poverty, but thou art rich. 2 Cor. vi. 
10. — as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 

h Matt. ix. 12, They that be whole need not a physician, but they 
that are sick. Isa. Ivii. 17, 18, For the iniquity of his covetousness 
was I wroth, and smote him : I hid me and was wroth, and he went 
on frowardly in the way of his heart, I have seen his ways, and will 
heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him, and 
to his mourners. 

i Isa. lxiii. 17, O Lord, why hast thou made us err from thy ways ? 
and hardened our hearts from thy fear ? Return for thy servant's 
sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. 

k 2 Cor. i. 9, But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that 
we should not trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth the dead. 
Hos. v. 15, I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge 
their offence, and seek my face ; in their affliction they will seek me 
early. Chap. vi. 1, Come and let us return unto the Lord : for he 
hath torn and he will heal us ; he hath smitten and he will bind us up. 



160 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III, 

While high attainments cast me down, 
My deep abasements raise me soon : I 
My best tilings oft have evil brood, m 
My worst things work the greatest good, n 

My inward foes that me alarm, 
Breed me much hurt, yet little harm, o 
I get no good by them,* yet see 
To my chief good they cause me flee.^> 

They reach to me a deadly stroke, q 
Yet send me to a living rock, r 

I l Pet. v. 6, Be subject one to another, and be clothed with hu- 
mility ; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he 
may exalt you in due time. Psalm cxvi. 6, 1 was brought low, and 
he helped me. 

m Psalm xxx. 6, 7, And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be 
moved. Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand 
strong : thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. Deut. xxxii. 
14, 15, Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs and rams 
of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys, of wheat ; 
and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape. But Jeshurun 
waxed fat, and kicked : thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, 
thou art covered with fatness ; then he forsook the God which made 
him, and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation. Psalm cvi. 7, 
Our fathers understood not the wonders in Egypt, they remembered 
not the multitude of thy mercies, but provoked him at the sea, even 
at the Red sea. 

n Psalm xx. 11, Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dan- 
cing : thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness. 
Rom. viii. 28, See letter a. 

o Jer. x. 19, Wo is me for my hurt, my wound is grievous : but 
I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it. 1 Pet. iii. IS, And 
who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good ? 

* Viz. in themselves, but much evil. 1 Pet. ii. 11, Dearly be- 
loved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly 
lusts, which war against the soul. James i. 14, 15, But every man 
is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin ; and sin, when 
it is finished, bringeth forth death. 

p Psalm cxliii. 9, Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies : I 
flee unto thee to hide me. 

q Rom. viii. 13, If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die. 

rPsalm xviii. 46, 47, The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock ; 
and let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth 
me, and subdueth the people under me. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 161 

They make me long for Canaan's banks, s 
Yet sure I owe them little thanks. 

I travel, t yet stand firm and fast ; u 
I run, v but yet I make no haste, w 
I take away both old and new, x 
Within my sightly yet out of view, z 

My way directs me in the way, a 
And will not suffer me to stray ; b 

s Psalm lv. 6, And I said, O that I had wings like a dove ! for 
then would I fly away and be at rest. And cxx. 5, Wo is me, that 
I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in tents of Kedar. Rom. viii. 
20 — 23, For he (the creature) was made subject to vanity, not 
willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope; 
because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage 
of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For 
we know the whole creation groaneth, and travaileth in pain, toge- 
gether until now : and not only they, but ourselves also, which have 
the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within our- 
selves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 

t Heb. xi. 13, And confessed that they were strangers and pil- 
grims on the earth. 

u 1 Cor. xvi. 13, Watch ye, stand fast in the faith; quit you 
like men, be strong. 

v Heb. xii. 1, Let us run with patience the race that is set be- 
fore us. 

w Isa. xxviii. 16, He that believeth shall not make haste. 

x Jer. vi. 16, Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways and see, 
and ask ye for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk there- 
in, and ye shall find rest for your souls. Heb. x. 19, 20, Having, 
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood 
of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for 
us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh. 

y 1 Cor. xiii. 12, For we now see through a glass, darkly; but 
then face to face : now I know in part ; but then shall I know, even 
as I also am known. 

z John xvi. 10, I go to my Father, and ye see me no more. 

a John xiv. 6, Jesus said unto him, I am the way ; no man com- 
eth unto the Father, but by me. 

b Isa. xlii. 16, And I will bring the blind by a way that they 
know not ; I will lead them in paths that they have not known ; I 
will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. 
These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. Chap. v. 
4, Behold, I have given him to be a leader and commander to the 
people. 



162 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

Though high and out of sight it be, 
I'm in the way, the way's in me. c 

Tis straight, c?yet full of heights and depths, e 
I keep the way,y*tbe way me keeps, g 
And being that to which I tend, 
My very way's my journey's end.^ 

When I'm in company I groan, 
Because I then am most alone ; i 

c Isa. xxxv. 8, And an high-way shall be there, and a way, and 
it shall be called the way of holiness ; the unclean shall not pass 
over it, but it shall be for those ; the way-faring men, though fools, 
shall not err therein. John xv. 14, Abide in me, and I in you. 
Chap. xvii. 23, I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made 
perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, 
and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. v. 26, And I have 
declared unto them thy name, and will declare it ; that the love 
wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them. 

d Matt. iii. 3, This is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, 
saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the 
way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 

e Isa. xl. 3, 4, The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, 
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a high 
way for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every moun- 
tain and hill be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, 
and the rough places plain. Chap. xlii. 16, See letter h. Psalm 
lxxvii. 13, Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary, v. 19, Thy way 
is in the sea, and thy path is in the great waters, and thy foot-steps 
are not known. 

f Psalm xxxvii. 34, Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he 
shall exalt thee to inherit the land. 

g Psalm cxxi. 3, 4, He will not suffer thy foot to be moved ; he 
that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold he that keepeth Israel, 
shall neither slumber nor sleep. 

h Heb. xii. 22 — 24, But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto 
the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innu- 
merable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of 
the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of 
all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the 
Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that 
speaketh better things than the blood of Abel. 1 Thess. iv 17, 
Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together 
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air ; and so shall 
we ever be with the Lord. 

i Song i. 3, Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 163 

Yet in my closest secrecy, 
Fin joyful in my company, k 

I'm heard afar,/ without a noise ; 
I cry without a lifted voice, m 
Still moving in devotion's sphere, n 
Yet seldom steady persevere, o 

I'm heard when answer'd soon or late ; p 
And heard when I no answer get ; q 
Yea, kindly answer'd, when refns'd, r 
And friendly treat, when harshly us'd. s 

feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon ; for why 
should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy compa- 



nions 



7 



k Song vii. 11, 12, Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the 
field, let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vine- 
yards, let us see if the vines flourish, whether the tender grapes 
appear, and the pomegranates bud forth ; for there will I give thee 
my loves. 

I Psalm xx. 6, Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed ; 
he will hear him from his holy heaven, with the saving strength of 
his right hand. 

m 1 Sam. i. 13 — 15, Now Hannah, she spake in her heart, only 
her lips moved, but her voice was not heard ; therefore Eli thought 
she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, how long wilt thou 
be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered 
and said, No my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit ; I have 
drunken neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul 
before the Lord. 

n 1 Thess. v. 13, Pray without ceasing. 

o Hos. vi. 4, O Ephraim what shall I do unto thee ? O Judah, 
what shall I do unto thee ? for your goodness is as a morning-cloud, 
and as the early dew it goeth away. 

p Isa. xlix. 8, Thus saith the Lord, in an acceptable time have I 
heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee. 

q Matt. xxvi. 39, And Jesus went a little further, and fell on his 
face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup 
pass from me ; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. 

r Psalm xxii. 1 — 3, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken 
me ? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words' of 
my roaring? O my God, I cry in the day-time, but thou hearest 
not ; and in the night season, and am not silent. But thou [art 
holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 

s Heb. xii, 5 — 10, And ye have forgotten the exhortation which 



164 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

My fervent pray'rs ne'er did prevail, t 
Nor e'er of prevalency fail, u 
I wrestle till my strength be spent, v 
Yet yield when strong recruits are sent, w 

I languish for my Husband's charms, a? 
Yet faint away when in his arms, y 



speaketh unto you as children, My son, despise not thou the chaste- 
ning of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him ; for whom 
the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he 
receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with 
sons ; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not ? But if 
ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye 
bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our 
flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence ; shall we 
not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live ? 
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; 
but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 

t Dan. ix. 8, 19, O my God, incline thine ear, and hear ; open 
thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called 
by thy name ; for we do not present our supplications before thee 
for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies. O Lord, hear ; O 
Lord, forgive ; O Lord, hearken and do ; defer not for thine own 
sake, O my God ; for thy city, and thy people are called by thy 
name. 

u James v. 16, The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man 
availeth much. 

v Gen. xxxii. 24, 25, And Jacob was left alone ; and there 
wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 

w Psalm cxxxviii. 3, In the day when 1 cried, thou answeredst 
me ; and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. Gen. xviii. 
32, 33, And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak 
but this once ; Peradventure ten shall be found there. And the 
Lord went his way as soon as he had left communing with Abraham ; 
and Abraham returned unto his place. 

x Psalm lxiii. 2, My flesh longeth to see thy power and thy glory, 
so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. And xxvii. 4, One thing 
have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell 
in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty 
of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. 

y Rev. i. 17, And when 1 saw him, I fell at his feet as dead : and 
he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not, I am the 
first and the last. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 165 

My sweetest health doth sickness prove ; 
When love me heals, I'm sick of love, z 

I am most merry when I'm sad, a 
Most full of sorrow when I'm glad h 
Most precious when I am most vile, c 
And most at home when in exile, d 

My base and honourable birth 
Exites my mourning 1 and my mirth : e 

z Song ii. 4, 5, He brought me to the banqueting-house, and his 
banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with 
apples ; for I am sick of love. 

a 1 Cor. vii. 10, For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto sal- 
vation, not to be repented of. Eccl. vii. 3, Sorrow is better than 
laughter ; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made 
better. 

b Prov. xiv. 13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and 
the end of that mirth is heaviness. 

c Job xl. 4, Behold I am vile, what shall I answer thee? I will 
lay my hand upon my mouth. Chap. xlii. 5, 6, I have heard of 
thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee. 
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Jer. xxxi. 
18—20, I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, 
Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccus-> 
tomed to the yoke ; turn thou me, and I shall be turned ; for thou 
art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented, 
and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh : I was 
ashamed ; yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of 
my youth. Is Ephraim my dear son, is he a pleasant child ? for 
since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still : there- 
fore my bowels are troubled for him ; I will surely have mercy upon 
him, saith the Lord. 

d Ezek. i. 1 , Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the 
fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, (as I was among the 
captives by the river of Chebar,) that the heavens were opened, and 
I saw visions of God. Rev. i. 9, 20, I John, who also am your 
brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and pa- 
tience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the 
word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ, I was in the 
Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a 
trumpet, &c. John xvi. 32, Behold the hour cometh, yea is now 
come, that ye shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall 
leave me alone ; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is 
with me. 

e Ezek. xvi. 3, 4, Thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem, Thy 
birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan ; thy father was an 



166 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III, 

I'm poor, yet stock'd with untold rent \f 
Most weak and yet omnipotent, g 

On earth there's none so great and high, h 
Nor yet so low and mean as I ; t 
None or so foolish, k or so wise :i 
So often fall, so often rise, fn 

Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. And as for thy nativity in the 
day thou wast born, thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed 
in water to supple thee : thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at 
all. John i. 13, Which are born not of blood, nor of the will of the 
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Psalm li. 5, Behold I 
was shapen in iniquity ; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 
2 Pet. i. 3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto 
a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 

/*Rev. Hi. 17, Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased 
with goods, and have need of nothing ; and knowest not that thou 
art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I 
counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be 
rich ; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the 
shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eves with 
eye salve that thou mayest see. Eph. iii. 8, Unto me who am less 
than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach 
among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. 

g John xv. 5, Without me ye can do nothing. Phil. iv. 13, I 
can do all things, through Christ which strengthened me. 

h Psalm xvi. 3, But to the saints that are in the earth, and to 
the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Isa. xliii. 4, Since thou 
wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have 
loved thee : therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 

i Eph, iii. 8, See letter e. 1 Tim. i. 15, This is a faithful saying, 
and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world 
to save sinners ; of whom I am the chief. 

k Psalm lxxiii. 22, So foolish was I, and ignorant; I was as a 
beast before thee. Prov. xxx. 2, 3, Surely I am more brutish than 
any man, and have not the understanding of a man, I neither 
learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. 

I 1 Cor. i. 30, But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is 
made unto us wisdom, &c. Matt. xi. 25, 26, At that time Jesus 
answered and said, 1 thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and 
earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, 
and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it 
seemed good in thy sight. Chap. xiii. 11, Jesus answered and said 
unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the 
kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 

m Prov. xxiv. 6, A just man falleth seven times and riseth up again. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 167 

I, seeing him I never saw, n 
Serve without fear, and yet with awe, o 
Though love, when perfect, fear remove,/? 
Yet most I fear when most I love, q 

All things are lawful unto me, r 
Yet many things unlawful be ; s 
To some I perfect hatred bear t 
To keep the law of love entire : u 



n 1 Pet. i. 8, Whom having not seen, ye love ; in whom though 
now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, 
and fall of glory. Heb. xi. 1, Now faith is the substance of things 
hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

o Luke i. 74, That he would grant unto us, that we being de-* 
livered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without 
fear. Heb. xii. 23, Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which can- 
not be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God accep- 
tably, with reverence and godly fear. 

p I John iv. 18, There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth 
out fear, because fear hath torment ; he that feareth is not made 
perfect in love. 

q Jer. xxxiii. 9, And it shall be to me a name and joy, a praise 
and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear 
all the good that 1 do unto them ; and they shall fear and tremble 
for all the goodness, and for all the prosperity that I can procure 
unto it. Hos. iii. 5, Afterwards shall the children of Israel return, 
and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and shall fear 
the Lord and his goodness in the latter days. 

r 1 Cor. vi. 12, All things are lawful unto me, but all things are 
not expedient ; all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought 
under the power of any. 

s Exod. xx. 1, 2, 3, &c. And God spake all these words, saying, 
I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of 
Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods 
before me, &c. 

t Psalm cxxxix. 21, 22, Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate 
thee ? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee ? 
I hate them with a perfect hatred, I count them mine enemies. 

u 2 Chron. xix. 2, And Jehu the son of Hanani, the seer, went out 
to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldst thou help the 
ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord ? therefore is wrath upon 
thee from before the Lord. 



168 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART lit 

I'm bound to love my friends v but yet 

I sin unless I do them hate : w 

I am oblig'd to hate my foes, x 

Yet bound to love and pray for those, y 

Heart-love to men I'm calPd t f impart, 
Yet God still calls for all my heart, z 
1 do him and his service both 
By nature love, a by nature loathe, b 

SECTION V. — Mysteries about flesh and spirit , liberty and 
bondage, life and death. 

Much like my heart both false and true, a 
I have a name both old and new. b 

v Lev. xix. 18, Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge, 
against the children of thy peeple, but thou shalt love thy neigh- 
bour as thyself: I am the Lord. 

w Luke xiv. 26, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, 
and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, 
and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 

x As they are the foes of God. Judges v. 31, So let all thine 
enemies perish, O Lord ; but let them that love him be as the sun 
when he goeth forth in his might. Psalm xvii. 13, 14, Arise, O 
Lord, disappoint him, cast him down : deliver my soul from the 
wicked which is thy sword ; from men which are thy hand, O Lord, 
from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and 
whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure : they are full of child- 
ren, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. 

y Matt. v. 44, But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them 
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them 
which despitefully use you, and persecute you. 

z Matt. xix. 19, Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love thy neigh- 
bour as thyself. Chap. xxii. 47, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God 
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

a I John v. 2, By this we know that we love the children of God, 
when we love God, and keep his commandments. 

b Rom. viii. 7, The carnal mind is enmity against God ; for it is 
not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Col. i. 21, 
And you that were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your minds 
by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. 

a Jer. xvii. 9, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desper- 
ately wicked, who can know it? Heb. x. 22, Let us draw near with a 
true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from 
an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 

b Rom. ix. 25, 26, As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my 



THE BELIEVER*S RIDDLE. 169 

No new thing is beneath the son ; c 
Yet all is new, and old thing's gone, d 

Though in ray flesh dwells no good thing, e 
Yet Christ in me I joyful sing.jf 
Sin I confess, and I deny ; 
For though I sin, it is not \.g 

people, which were not my people : and her beloved, which was not 
beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it 
was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there shall they be called, 
The children of the living God. Rev. ii. 17, He that hath an ear 
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that 
overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him 
a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man 
knoweth, saving he that receiveth it. Chap. iii. 12, Him that over- 
cometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go 
no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and 
the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which 
cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him 
my new name. 

c Eccl. i. 9, The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be : 
and that which is done, is that which shall be done : and there is no 
new thing under the sun. 

d 2 Cor. v. 17, If any man be in Christ he is a new creature ; 
old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. Rev. 
xxi. 5, And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all 
things new. 

e Rom. vii. 28, For I know, that in me (that is, in my flesh) 
dwelleth no good thing ; for to will is present with me, but how to 
perform that which is good, I find not. 

/'Col. i. 27, To whom God would make known what is the riches 
of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which s Christ in 
you the hope of glory. 

g Rom. vii. 14 — 20, For we know that the law is spiritual; but 
I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do, I allowjiot ; for 
what I would, that I do not ; but what I hate, that do I. If then I 
do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 
Now then, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
For I know, that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing*; 
for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, 
I find not. For the good that I would, I do not ; but the evil which 
I would not, that I do. Now, if I do that I would not, it is no more 
I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 1 John iii. 9, Whosoever 
is born of God, doth not commit sin ; for his seed a remaineth in him ; 
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 

M 



170 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

I sin against, and with my will ; h 
I'm innocent, yet guilty still, i 
Though fain Pd be the greatest saint, k . 
To be the least I'd be content. / 

My lowness may my height evince, m 
I'm both a beggar and a prince, n 
With meanest subjects I appear, o 
With kings a royal sceptre bear, p 

h Rom. vii. 12 — 25, I find then a law, that when I would do good, 
evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God, after the 
inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against 
the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, 
which is in my members. O wretched man that I am, who shall 
deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, with the mind, I myself serve the 
law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. 

i Psalm xix. 13, Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous 
sins ; let them not have dominion over me : then shall I be upright, 
and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. And cxx. 3, 
If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand ? 

k Psalm xxvii. 4, One thing have I desired of the Lord, that 
will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the 
days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in 
his temple. 

I Psalm lxxxiv. 10, For a day in thy courts is better than a thou- 
sand ; I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than 
to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 

m Job. v. 11, To set up on high those that be low; that those 
which mourn may be exalted to safety. 

n 1 Sam. ii. 8, The Lord raiseth the poor out of the dust, and 
lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, 
and to make them inherit the throne of glory ; for the pillars of the 
earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them. Gen. 
xxxii. 28, And the angel said, Thy name shall be called no more 
Jacob, but Israel ; for as a prince thou hast power with God and 
with men, and hast prevailed. Rev. i. 5, 6, Unto him that loved 
us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us 
kings and priests unto God and his Father ; to him be glory and 
dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

o Phil. ii. 10, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 
of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. 
Heb. i. 6, And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into 
the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 

p Rev. ii. 26, 27, And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDD1.E. 171 

I'm both unfetter'd and involv'd, q 
By law condemn'd, by law absolv'd, r 
My guilt condignly punish'd see, 
Yet I a guilty wretch go free, s 

My gain did by my loss begin ; t 
My righteousness commenc'd by sin ; u 
My perfect peace by bloody strife ; v 
Life is my death, and death my life, w 

mito the end, to him will I give power over the nations : (and he 
shall rule them as with a rod of iron : as the vessels of a potter shall 
they be broken to shivers) even as I received of my Father. 

q Psalm cxvi. 16, O Lord, truly I am thy servant; I am thy 
servant, and the son of thy handmaid ; thou hast loosed my bonds. 
Rom. vii. 23, But I see another law in my members, warring against 
the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin 
which is in my members. 

r 1 John iii. 20, For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than 
our heart, and knoweth all things. Rom. viii. 1, There is therefore 
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk 
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, v. 33, 34, Who shall lay 
any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth: 
who is he that condemneth ? It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that 
is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also mak- 
eth intercession for us. 

s Gal. iii. 13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, 
being made a curse for us : for it is written, Cursed is every one that 
hangeth on a tree, 

t Rom. iii. 23, 24, For all have sinned, and come short of the 
glory of God : being justified freely by his grace, through the re- 
demption that is in Jesus Christ. 

u Rom. iii. 5, But if our unrighteousness commend the righteous- 
ness of God, what shall we say? Chap. v. 20, 21, But where sin 
abounded, grace did much more abound : that as sin hath reigned 
unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness, unto 
eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

v Col. i. 20, And (having made peace through the blood of his 
cross) by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, 
whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 

w The life of sin is our death. 1 Tim. v. 6, But she that liveth 
in pleasure is dead while she liveth. The death of Christ our life. 
2 Cor. v. 14, 15, For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we 
thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead ; and that he 
died for all, that they which live, should not henceforth live unte 
themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again, 

m2 



172 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

I'm (in this present life I know) 
A captive and a freeman too ; x 
And though my death can't set me free, 
It will perfect my liberty, y 

I am not worth one dusty grain, 
Yet more than worlds of golden gain ; 
Though worthless I myself indite, 
Yet shall as worthy walk in white, z 

SECTION VI — The mystery of free justification through 
Christ's obedience and satisfaction. 

No creature ever could or will 
For sin yield satisfaction full ; a 
Yet justice from the creature's hand 
Both sought and got its full demand, b 

x Rom. vii. 23, See letter q. Chap. viii. 2, For the law of the 
Spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin 
and death. 

y John viii. 36, If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall 
be free indeed. Rev. xiv. 13, And I heard a voice from heaven, 
saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, 
from henceforth : Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from 
their labours ; and their works do follow them. 2 Cor. v. 4, For 
we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened : not for 
that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might 
be swallowed up of life. 

z Gen. xxxii. 10, I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, 
and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for 
with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two 
bands. Rev. iii. 4, Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which 
have not denied their garments ; and they shall walk with me in 
white, for they are worthy. 

a Psalm xlix. 8, For the redemption of their soul is precious, and 
it ceaseth for ever. Isa, xl. 16, And Lebanon is not sufficient to 
burn, nor all the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt-offering. 

b Psalm xl. 6, Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire, mine 
ears thou hast opened: burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not 
required. Heb. x. 5 — 7, Wherefore, when he cometh into the 
world he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not, but a body 
hast thou prepared for me : in burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin 
thou hast had no pleasure ; then said I, Lo I come (in the volume 
of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God. Eph. v. 2, 
Christ hath loved us, and hath given himself for us. an offering and 
n sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 173 

Hence though I am, as well I know, 
A debtor, c yet I nothing owe. d 
My creditor has nought to say, e 
Yet never I had aught to pay./* 

He freely pardon'd ev'ry mite, g 
Yet would no single farthing quit, k 
Hence ev'ry bliss that falls to me 
Is dearly bought, yet wholly free, i 

All pardon that I need I have, 
Yet daily pardon need to crave, k 

c Matt. vi. 12, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 

d Rom. iii. 24, 25, Being justified freely by bis grace, tbrougb 
tbe redemption tbat is in Jesus Cbrist : whom God batb set forth to 
be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteous- 
ness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance 
of God. Heb. x. 14, For by one offering he hath perfected for ever 
them that are sanctified. 

e Rom. viii. 33, 34, Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's 
elect? It is God that justifieth ; who is he that condemneth? It 
is Cbrist that died, yea rather, that is lisen again, who is even at the 
right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 

f Rom. v. 6, For when we were yet without strength, in due time 
Christ died for the ungodly, v. 8 But God eommendeth his love 
toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

g Acts xiii. 38, 39, Be it known unto you therefore, men and 
brethren, that through this man is preaehed unto you the forgiveness 
of sins : and by him all that believe are justified from all things, 
from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 

h Rom. iii. 24, 25, See letter d. Chap. viii. 22, He spared not 
his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, 

i 1 Pet. xviii. 19, For as much as ye know that ye were not re- 
deemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain 
conversation received by tradition from your fathers ; but with th« 
precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without 
spot. Eph. i. 7, \n whom we have redemption through his blood, 
the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. 2 Tim. 
i. 9, Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling; not ac- 
cording to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace 
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. 

k Psalm ciii. 3, Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth 
all thy diseases. And xxv. 11, For thy name's sake, O Lord, par- 
don mine iniquity, for it is very great. Luke xi. 4, And forgive us 
our sins ; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. 

m3 



1^4 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

The law's arrest keeps me in awe, / 
But yet 'gainst me there is no law. m 

Though truth my just damnation crave, n 
Yet truth's engag'd my soul to save, o 
My whole salvation comes by this, 
Fair truth and mercy's mutual kiss. jp 

Law-breakers ne'er its curse have miss'd ; 
But I ne'er kept it yet I'm bless'd. q 
I can y t be justify'd by it, r 
And yet it can't but me acquit, s 

Dan. ix. 19 y O Lord, bear ; O Lord, forgive m r O Lord, hearken and 
do, defer not for thine own sake, O my God ; for thy city, and thy 
people, are called by thy name. 

I Psalm cxix. 120, My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am 
afraid of thy judgments. Rom. vii. 9, I was alive without the law 
once ; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 
v. 13, Was then that which is good made death unto me ? God 
forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by 
that which is good ; that sin by the commandment might become 
exceeding sinful. 

m Gal. v. 23, The fruit of the Spirit is — meekness, temperance, 
against such there is no law. 1 Tim. i. 9, Knowing this, that the 
law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and dis- 
obedient, &c. 

n Ezek. xviii. 4, The soul that sinneth, it shall die. 

o 1 Tim. i. 15, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accepta- 
tion, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of 
whom I am the chief. 

p Psalm lxxxv. 10, Mercy and truth are met together, righte- 
ousness and peace have kissed each other. 

q Gal. iii. 10, As many as are of the works of the law, are under 
the curse ; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not 
in all things which are written in the book of tho law to do them. 
v . 13, 14, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being 
made a curse for us : for it is written, Cursetf is every one that 
hangeth on a tree : that the blessing of Abraham might come on the 
Gentiles through Jesus Christ ; that we might receive the promise 
of the Spirit through faith. 

r Rom. iii. 20, Therefore by the deeds of the law, there shall no 
ilesh be justified in his sight : for by the law is the knowledge of 
sin. Gal. ii. 16, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works 
of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ : even we have believed 
in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, 



THE BELIEVER^ RIDDLE. 175 

Fm not oblig'd to keep it more, t 
Yet more oblig'd than e'er before, u 
By perfect doing, life I find ; v 
Yet * do and live' no more me bind, w 

and not by the works of the law ; for by the works of the law shall 
no flesh be justified. Chap. iii. 11, But that no man is justified by 
the law in the sight of God, it is evident ; for, the just shall live by 
faith. 

s Rom. viii. 1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them 
which are in Christ Jesus, v. 3, 4, For what the law could not do, 
in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son, in 
the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh ; 
that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not 
after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 Cor. v. 2, For he hath made 
him to be sin for us, who knew no sin ; that we might be made the 
righteousness of God in him. Rom. iii. 26, To declare, I say, at 
this time his righteousness ; that he might be just, and the justifier 
of him which believethin Jesus. 

t Rom. vi. 14, Sin shall not have dominion over you ; for ye are 
not under the law, but under grace. Gal. v. 1 — 4, Stand fast there- 
fore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not 
entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold I Paul say unto 
you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For 
I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor 
to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, who- 
soever of you are justified by the law ; ye are fallen from grace. 

u Rom. vi. 1, 2, What shall we say then? shall we continue in 
sin, that grace may abound ? God forbid ; how shall we that are 
dead to sin, live any longer therein, v. 15, What then ? shall we 
sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace ? God forbid. 

v Rom. v. 17 — 19, They which receive abundance of grace, 
and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus 
Christ. By the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men 
to justification of life. By the obedience ©f one shall many be made 
righteous* 

w Rom. x. 5, 9, For Moses describeth the righteousness which is 
of the law, that the man which doth these things, shall live by 
them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this 
wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven ? (that 
is, to bring Christ down from above ;) or who shall descend into the 
deep ? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead ;) but what 
saith it ? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy 
heart ; that is, the word of faith which we preach, That if thou shalt 
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine 
heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 



176 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

These terms no change can undergo, 
Yet sweetly chang'd they are : x for lo, 
My doing caus'd my life, y but now 
My life's the cause that makes me do. z 

Though works of righteousness I store, a 
Yet righteousness of works abhor ; h 
For righteousness without a flaw 
Is righteousness without the law. c 

In duty's way I'm bound to lie, d 
Yet out of duties bound to fly : e 

x Rom. iii. 31, Do we then make void the law through faith ? 
God forbid ; yea, we establish the law. 

y Rom. x. 5, See letter w. 

z John xiv. 19, Because I live, ye shall live also. Chap. xv. 5, 
I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in me, and I in 
him, the same bringeth forth much fruit ; for without me ye can do 
nothing. Rom. vii. 4, Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become 
dead to the law by the body of Christ ; that ye should be married to 
another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should 
bring forth fruit unto God. Ezek. xxxvi. 27, And 1 will put my 
Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall 
keep my judgments, and do them. 

a Phil. i. 11, Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which 
are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. 

b Phil. iii. 9, And be found in him, not having mine own righte- 
ousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of 
Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Isa. lxiv. 6, 
All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Rom. iv. 6, Even as 
David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God 
imputeth righteousness without works. 

c Rom. iii. 20 — 22, Therefore by the deeds of the law there 
shall no flesh be justified in his sight ; for by the law is the know- 
ledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is 
manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets ; even 
the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, 
and upon all them that believe ; for there is no difference. 

d Prov. viii. 34, Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching 
daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 

e Isa. lvii. 12, I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works, for 
they shall not profit thee. Luke xvii. 10, When ye shall have done 
all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable 
servants ; we have done that which was our duty to do. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 177 

Hence merit I renounce with shame, f 
Yet right to life by merit claim, g 

Merit of perfect righteousness 
I never had, h yet never miss ; i 
On this condition I have all, k 
Yet all is unconditional. / 

Though freest mercy I implore, m 
Yet I am safe on justice* score, n 

/Psalm xvi. 2, O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou 
art my Lord ; my good extendeth not to thee. Ezek. xxxvi. 32, 
Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto 
you ; be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of 
Israel. 

g Rom. v. 18, 19, By the righteousness of one, the free gift came 
upon all men unto justification of life. By the obedience of one 
shall many be made righteous. Isa. xlv. 24, 25, Surely shall one 
say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength ; even to him 
shall men come, and all that are incensed against him shall be 
ashamed. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and 
shall glory. 

h Rom. iii. 9, 10, What then? are we better than they? No, 
in no wise ; for we have proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they 
are all under sin ; as it is written, There is none righteous, no not 
one. v. 19, Now we know, that what things soever the law saith, 
it saith to them who are under the law : that every mouth may be 
stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 

i 1 Cor. i. 30, But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is 
made unto us righteousness. Isa. xlv. 54, See letter g. Jer. xxiii. 
6, In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely ; 
and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR 
RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

k Isa. xlii. 21, The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' 
sake, he will magnify the law and make it honourable. Matt. iii. 15, 
Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness, v. 17, And lo a 
voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am 
well pleased. 

I Isa. lv. 1, Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, 
and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, buy 
wine and milk without money, and without price. Rev. xxiii. 17, 
Whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely. 

m Psalm li. 1, Have mercy upon me, O God, according *to thy 
loving-kindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mer- 
cies, blot out my transgressions. 

n Rom. iii. 24 — 26, Being justified freely by his grace, through 



178 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

Which never could the guilty free, o 
Yet fully clears most guilty me. p 

SECTION VII The mystery of God the Justifier, Rom. 

iii 26, justified both in his justifying and condemning ; or 
soul justification and self-condemnation. 

My Jesus needs not save, a yet must ; b 
He is my hope, c I am his trust, d 
He paid the double debt, well known 
To be all mine, yet all his own. e 

the redemption that is in Christ Jesus ; whom God hath set 
forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his 
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the 
forbearance of God ; to declare, I say, at this time his righteous- 
ness ; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth 
in Jesus. 1 John i. 9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and 
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

o Exod. xxiv. 6, 7, And the Lord passed by before him, and pro- 
claimed, The Lord, the Lord God — that will by no means clear the 
guilty. 

p Rom. iv. 5, To him that worketh not, but believeth on him 
that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 

a Rom. ix. 5, Christ is over all, God blessed for ever. 

b John x. 16, And other sheep I have which are not of this fold : 
them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice ; and there 
shall be one fold, and one shepherd, v. 18, No man taketh it [my 
life] from me, but I lay it down of myself: I have power to lay it 
down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have 
I received of my Father. Luke ii. 49, And Jesus said unto them 
[Joseph and his mother], How is it that ye sought me ? wist ye not 
that I must be about my Father's business ? 

c Jer. xiv. 8, O the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of 
trouble, &c. Chap. xvii. 17, Be not a terror unto me, thou art my 
hope in the day of evil. 1 Tim . i. 1 , Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ ; 
by the commandment of God our Saviour, and the Lord Jesus Christ 
which is our hope. 

d John xvii. 6, I have manifested thy name unto the men which 
thou gavest me out of the world; thine they were, and thou gavest 
them me. 2 Tim. i. 12, 1 know whom I have believed ; and I am 
persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto 
him against that day. 

e Isa. liii. 4 — 6, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried 
our sorrows ; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and 
afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was 






m 

Hence, though I ne'er had more or less 
Of justice — pleasing righteousness,/ 1 
Yet here is one wrought to my hand, 
As full as justice can demand, g 

By this my Judge is more appeas'd 
Than e'er my sins his honour leas'd : h 
Yea, justice can't be pleas'd so well 
By all the torments borne in hell, i 

Full satisfaction here is such, 

As hell can never yield so much ; k 

bruised for our iniquities ; the chastisement of our peace was upon 
him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have 
gone astray ; we have turned every one to his own way, and the 
Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. v. 8, For the trans- 
gression of my people was he stricken. Heb. vii. 22, By so much 
was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 

/Rom. iii. 9, 10, 19, See letter # forecited 

g Dan. ix. 24, Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, 
and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an 
end of sins, and to make a reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring 
in everlasting righteousness, &c. Zech. xiii. 7, Awake, O sword, 
against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith 
the Lord of hosts : smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scat- 
tered, and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 

h Rom. v. 8 — 11, But God commendeth his love towards us, in 
that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. Much more 
then being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath 
through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to 
God by the death of his Son : much more being reconciled, we shall 
be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God 
through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the 
atonement. Heb. ix. 14, How much more shall the blood of Christ, 
who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, 
purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God ? 

i Heb. x. 5, 6, Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he 
saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not, but a body hast thou 
prepared for me ; in burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast 
no pleasure, v. 14, By one offering he hath perfected for ever them 
that are sanctified, v. 49, Of how much sorer punishment suppose 
ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the 
Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith 
he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the 
Spirit of grace. 

k Rom. v. 11, See letter h. Eph. v. 2, Christ hath given him- 



180 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

Though justice therefore might me damn, 
Yet by more justice sav'd I am. / 

Here ev'ry divine property 
Is to the highest set on high ; m 
Hence God his glory would injure, 
If my salvation were not sure, n 

My peace and safety lie in this, 
My Creditor my Surety is, o 

self for U9, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling 
savour. 1 Pet. i. 18, 19, Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not 
redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain 
conversation, received by tradition from your fathers ; but with the 
precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without 
spot. Gal. iii. 13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the 
law, being made a curse for us. 

I 1 Pet. iii. 18, Christ hath once suffered for sins, the just for the 
unjust, (that he might bring us to God) being put to death in the 
flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. Rom. iii. 26, To declare, 1 say, 
at this time his righteousness ; that he might be just, and the justi- 
fier of him which believeth in Jesus. 1 John ii. 2, And he is the 
propitiation for our sins ; and not for ours only, but also for the 
sins of the whole world. Chap. iv. 10, Herein is love, not that we 
loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitia- 
tion for our sins. 

m Rom. iii. 25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, 
through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the re- 
mission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. 
Psalm lxxxv. 10, Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness 
and peace have kissed each other. 2 Cor. v. 18, 19, And all things 
are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and 
hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation ; to wit, that God 
was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himseif, not imputing their 
trespasses unto them ; and hath committed unto us the word of 
reconciliation, v. 21, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who 
knew no sin ; that we might be made the righteousness of God in 
him. Luke ii. 14, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth 
peace, good-will towards men. 

n Isa. xliv. 23, Sing, O ye heavens ; for the Lord hath done it ; 
shout, ye lower parts of the earth ; break forth into singing, ye 
mountains, O forest, and every tree therein ; for the Lord hath re- 
deemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. Eph, i. 6, To the 
praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted 
in the beloved, v. 12, That we should be to the praise of his glory 
who first trusted in Christ. 

o Psalm cxix. 122, Be surety for thy servant for good ; let not 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 181 

The judgment-day I dread the less, 
My Judge is made my righteousness./? 

He paid out for a bankrupt crew 
The debt that to himself was due : 
And satisfied himself for me, 
When he did justice satisfy, q 

He to the law, though Lord of it, 
Did most obediently submit, r 
What he ne'er broke, and yet must die, 
I never kept, yet live must I. s 

The iaw, which him its keeper kill'd, 
In me its breaker is fulnTd ; t 
He rnagnify'd and honoured more 
Than sin defac'd it e'er before, u 

the proud oppress me. Heb. vii. 22, By so much was Jesus made a 
surety of a better testament. 

p 1 Cor. i. 30, But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God, 
is made unto us — righteousness. Chap. xv. 55 — 57, O death, 
where is thy sting ? O grave, where is thy victory ? The sting of 
death is sin ; and the strength of sin is the law : But thanks be to 
God, which givetb us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

q Zech. xiii. 7, See letter g. Rom ix. 5, Christ is over all, 
God blessed for ever. Phil. iii. 6 — 8, Christ Jesus being in the 
form of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God ; but 
made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a 
servant, and was made in the likeness of men : and being found in 
fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto 
death, even the death of the cross. 

r Ibid. Gal. iv. 4, 5, But when the fulness of the time was come, 
God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, to 
redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the 
adoption of sons. 

s 1 Pet. iii. 18, See letter I 2 Cor. v. 21, See letter m. 1 John 
iv. 9, In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because 
that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might 
live through him. 

t Rom. viii. 3, 4, For what the law could not do, in that it was 
weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son, in the likeness of 
sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh ; that the righte- 
ousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the 
flesh, but after the Spirit. 

u Isa. xlii. 21, The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' 



182 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

Hence though the law condemn at large, 
It can lay nothing to my charge ; v 
Nor find such ground to challenge me, 
As Heaven hath found to justify, w 

But though he freely me remit, 

I never can myself acquit, x 

My Judge condemns me not, I grant ; 

Yet justify myself I can't, y 

From him I have a pardon got, 
But yet myself I pardon not. z 

sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Rom. v. 18 — 
21, Therefore, as by the offence of one, judgment came uponall men to 
condemnation ; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came 
upon all men unto justification of life. For, as by one man's disobedi- 
ence many were made sinners: so by the obedience of one shall many 
be made righteous. Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might 
abound^ but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound ; that 
as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through 
righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

v Rom. viii. 1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them 
which are in Christ Jesus, v. 3, 4, See letter s. v. 33, 34, Who 
shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that 
justifieth: who is he that condemneth ? It is Christ that died, yea 
rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who 
also maketh intercession for us. 

w Job. xxxiii. 24, Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, De- 
liver him from going down to the pit. I have found a ransom. Rom. 
iii. 25, 26, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through 
faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of 
sins that are past, through the forbearance of God ; to declare, I 
say, at this time, his righteousness; that he might be just, and the 
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 

x I Sam. xii. 13, And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned 
against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also 
hath put away thy sin ; thou shalt not die. Psalm li. 2, 3, Wash 
me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 
For I acknowledge my transgressions ; and my sin is ever before me. 

y Rom. viii. 1, 33, See letter u. Job ix. 20, If I justify myself, 
mine own mouth shall condemn me ; if I say I am perfect, it shall 
also prove me perverse. 

z 2 Cor. vii. 1, For behold, this self same thing, that ye sorrowed 
after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what 
clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, 
what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge ! 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 183 

His rich forgiveness still I have, 
Yet never can myself forgive, a 

The more he's toward me appeas'd, b 
The more I'm with myself displeas'd, 
The more I am absolv'd by him, 
The more I do myself condemn, c 

When he in heaven dooms me to dwell, 
Then I adjudge myself to hell ; d 

a Isa. xxxviii. 15, What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto 
me, and himself hath done it : I shall go softly all my years in the 
bitterness of my soul. 

b Ezek. xvi. 63, That thou mayest remember and be confounded, 
and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I 
am pacified toward thee, for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord 
God. 

c Luke xviii. 13, 14, And the publican standing afar off, would 
not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his 
breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you this man 
went down to his house justified rather than the other ; for every 
one that exalteth himself, shall be abased ; and he that humbleth 
himself, shall be exalted. Ezek. xxxvi. 31, 32, Then shall ye re- 
member your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, 
and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities, and 
for your abominations. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord 
God, be it known unto you : be ashamed and confounded for your 
own ways, O house of Israel. Jer. xxxi. 19, Surely after that I was 
turned, I repented ; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon 
my thigh ; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear 
the reproach of my youth. 

d Matt. xxv. 34—39, Then shall the king say unto them on his 
right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom 
prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an 
hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me 
drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in ; naked, and ye clothed 
me ; I was sick, and ye visited me ; I was in prison, and ye came 
unto me, Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when 
saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee ? or thirsty, and gave thee 
drink ? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in ? or naked, 
and clothed thee ? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and 
came unto thee? 1 Cor. xi. 31, If we would judge ourselves, we 
should not be judged. Luke xv. 20, 21, And he [the prodigal son] 
arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, 
his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, 



184 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III, 

Yet still I to his judgment 'gree, 
And clear him from absolving me. e 

Thus he clears me, and I him clear, 
I justify my Justifier./* 
Let him condemn or justify, 
From all injustice I am free, g 

and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned 
against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called 
thy son. Gen. xxxii. 9, And Jacob said, O God of my father Abra- 
ham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which said unto me, 
Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well 
with thee ; I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies, and of ail 
the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servant ; for with my 
staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands. 

e Psalm li. 4, Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done 
this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified when thou 
speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. And xi. 7, The righteous 
Lord loveth righteousness, his countenance doth behold the upright. 
And cxlv. 16, 17, Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desires 
of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy 
in all his works. Rev. xv. 3, And they sing the song of Moses the 
servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and mar- 
vellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy 
ways, thou King of saints. 

/Rom. iii. 2b, To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness ; 
that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in 
Jesus. Isa. xlv. 21, There is no God else beside me, a just God 
and a Saviour, v. 24, Surely shall one say, In the Lord have I 
righteousness and strength. Chap, lxiii. 1, Who is this that cometh 
from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah ? This that is glori- 
ous in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength ? I 
that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Zech. ix. 9, Rejoice 
greatly, O daughter of Zion ; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem : be- 
hold thy King cometh unto thee ; he is just, and having salvation, &c. 

g Job xxv. 4 — 6, How then can man be justified with God? 
or, how can he be clean that is born of a woman ? Behold even to 
the moon, and it shineth not ; yea, the stars are not pure in his 
sight. How much leys man that is a worm ; and the son of man 
which is a worm ? Psalm Ixxxix. 14, Justice and judgment are the 
habitation of thy throne ; mercy and truth shall go before thy face. 
And xcvii. 2, Clouds and darkness are round about him ; righteous- 
ness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. Rom. iii. 19, 
20, Now we know, that what things soever the law saith, it sairh to 
them who are under the law ; that every mouth may be stopped, and 
all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 185 



SECTION VIII — The Mystery of sanctification imperfect 
in this life ; or, the Believer doing all, and doing nothing. 

Mine arms embrace my God, a yet I 
Had never arms to reach so high ; h 
His arm alone me holds, c yet lo, 
I hold and will not let him go. d 

I do according to his call, 

And yet not I, but he does all ; e 

deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight ; for by 
the law is the knowledge of sin. v. 23 — 25, For all have sinned, 
and come short of the glory of God : being justified freely by his 
grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ ; whom God 
hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to de- 
clare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through 
the forbearance of God. Psalm xxii. 2, 3, O my God, I cry in the 
day-time, but thou hearest not; and in the night-season, and am not 
silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of 
Israel, 

a vSong iii. 4, It was but a little that I passed from them, but I 
found him whom my soul loveth ; I held him, and would not let him 
go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the 
chamber of her that conceived me. 

b Psalm Ixi. 2, From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, 
when my heart is overwhelmed ; lead me to the rock that is higher 
than I. 

c Psalm lxii. 8, My soul followeth hard after thee : thy right 
hand upholdeth me. Isa. Ixi. 10, Fear thou not, for I am with 
thee : be not dismayed, for I am thy God ; I will strengthen thee, 
yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of 
my righteousness. 

d Gen. xxxii. 26, And he [the angel] said, Let me go, for the 
day breaketh : And he [Jacob] said, I will not let thee go, except 
thou bless me. 

e 1 Cor. xv. 10, But by the grace of God I am what I am; and 
his grace which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain ; but I la- 
boured more abundantly than they all ; yet not I, but the grace of 
God which was with me. v. 58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, 
be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the 
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the 
Lord. 



186 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

But though he works to will and do 9 f 
I without force work freely too. g 

His will and mine agree full well, h 
Yet disagree like heav'n and hell, i 
His nature's mine, k and mine is his; I 
Yet so was never that nor this, m 

I know him and his name, yet own 
He and his name can ne'er be known, n 
His gracious coming makes me do ; 
I know he comes, yet know not how. o 

/Phil. ii. 13, It is God which worketh in you, both to will and 
to do of his good pleasure. 

g Psalm ex. 3, Thy people shall he willing in the day of thy 
power. And cxvi. 16, Oh Lord, truly I am thy servant, I am thy 
servant, and the son of thy handmaid ; thou hast loosed my bonds. 

h Matt. vi. 10, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. 
Psalm xl. 8, I delight to do thy will, O my God ; yea, thy law is 
within my heart. 

i Matt. xxi. 28, 29, A certain man had two sons : and he came to 
the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard. He 
answered and said, I will not, &c John. v. 40, Ye will not come 
to me, that ye might have life. Matt, xxiii. 37, O Jerusalem, 
Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which 
are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children 
together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, 
and ye would not ! 

k 2 Pet. i. 4, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and 
precious promises ; that by these ye might be partakers of the di- 
vine nature. 

I Heb. ii. 14, Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of 
flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same. v. 
16, For verily he took not on him the nature of angels ; but he 
took on him the seed of Abraham. 

m Isa. xl. 17, All nations before him are as nothing, and the}' are 
counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. To whom then will 
ye liken God ? or what likeness will ye compare unto him ? 

n Psalm ix. 16, They that know thy name will put their trust in 
thee. Prov. xxx. 3, 4, I [Agur] neither learned wisdom, nor have 
the knowledge of the holy. Who hath ascended up into heaven, or 
descended ; who hath gathered the winds in his fists ? who hath 
bound the waters in a garment ? who hath established all the ends 
of the earth ? what is his name ? and what is his son's name if thou 
canst tell ? 

o Song iv. 16, Awake, O north wind ; and come, thou south : 



The believer's riddle. 187 

I have no good but what he gave. p 
Yet he commends the good I have ; q 
And though my good to him ascends, r 
My goodness to him ne'er extends, s 

I take hold of his cov'nant free, t 
But find it must take hold of me. u 

Mow upon my garden, that tlie spices thereof may flow out: let my 
beloved come into bis garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. John iii. 
8, The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou nearest the sound 
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth ; 
so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 

p 1 Chron. xxix. 14, And David said, — But who am I, and what 
is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this 
sort ; for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given 
thee. 2 Cor. iii. 5, Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think 
any thing as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is of God. 

q 2 Cor. x. 18, For not he that commendeth himself is approved, 
but whom the Lord commendeth. Rom. xiL 1, 2, I beseech you 
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your 
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your 
reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world : but be 
ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove 
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. 

r Psalm xxv. 1, Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift my soul. And 
cxii. 2, Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense ; and the 
lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Eph. iii. 2, In 
whom [Christ Jesus] we have boldness and access with confidence 
by the faith of him. Heb. x. 19, Having therefore, brethren, 
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, &c. 

s Psalm xvi. 2, O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou 
art my Lord ; my goodness extendeth not to thee. 

t Isa. lvi. 4, Thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that take hold 
of my covenant, &c. v. 6, Also the sons of the stranger that join 
themselves unto the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the 
Lord, to be his servants, every one that taketh hold of my covenant, &c. 

u Zech. i. 6, But my words and my statutes which I commanded 
my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? 
and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do 
unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath 
he dealt with us. Psalm ex. 2, 3, The Lord shall send the rod of 
thy strength out of Zion ; rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 
Thy people shall ba willing in the day of thy power, &c. Rom. i. 
16, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ ; for it is the power 
ef God unto salvation, to every one that believeth, to the Jew firsts 

n2 



188 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

I'm bound to keep it, v yet 'tis bail, 
And bound to keep me without fail, w 

The bond on my part cannot last, x 
Yet on both sides stands firm and fast, y 
I break my bands at every shock 
Yet never is the bargain broke, z 

Daily, alas ! I disobey, a 

Yet yield obedience ev'ry day. 6 

and also to the Greek. 2 Cor. ii. 16, To the other we are the sa- 
vour of life unto life : and who is sufficient for these things ? 

v Psalm ciii. 17, 18, The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting 
to everlasting to them that fear him : and his righteousness unto 
children's children ; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that 
remember his commandments to do them. John xvii. 6, I have 
manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the 
world; thine they were, and thou gavest them me j and they have 
kept thy word. 

w Psalm lxxxix. 33 — 36, Nevertheless my loving kindness will I 
not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My 
covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my 
lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness, that I will not lie unto 
David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun 
before me. 

x Psalm lxxxix. 30 — 32, If his children forsake my law, and 
walk not in my judgments ; if they break my statutes, and keep not 
my commandments; then will I visit their transgressions with the 
rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 

y Psalm lxxxix. 2 — 4, For I have said, Mercy shall be built up 
for ever ; thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. 
I have made a covenant with my Chosen, I have sworn unto David 
my servant. Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy 
throne to all generations, v. 28, 29, My mercy will I keep for ever- 
more, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will 
1 make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. 
Jer. xxxii. 40, And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, 
and I will not turn away from them to do them good ; but I will 
put my fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from me. 

z Psalm lxxviii. 37, Their heart was not right with him, neither 
were they stedfast in his covenant. Isa. liv. 10, The mountains shall 
depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart 
from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith 
the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. 

a James iii. 2, In many things we offend all. 

o Psalm lxi. 8, So will I sing unto thy name for ever, that I may 
daily perform my vows. Heb. iii. 13, But exhort one another daily 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 18§ 

I'm an imperfect perfect man, c 
That can do all, yet nothing can, d 

I'm from beneath, eand from above,/ 
A child of wrath, g a child of love, h 
A stranger e'en where all may know ; 
A pilgrim, yet I no where go.* 

I trade abroad yet stay at home, k 
My tabernacle is my tomb. / 

while it is called, to-day ; lest any may be hardened through the 
deceitfulness of sin. 

c Psalm xxxvii. 37, Mark the perfect man, and behold the up- 
right ; for the end of that man is peace. Rev. iii. 2, Be watchful, 
and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die : for 
I have not found thy work perfect before God. 

d Phil. iv. 13, lean do all things through Christ which strength- 
ened me. John xv. 5, I am the vine, ye are the branches : he that 
abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit ; 
for without me ye can do nothing. 

£ John viii. 23, And Jesus said unto the Jews, Ye are from be- 
neath : ye are of this world, &c. 

/"Gal. iv. 26, Jerusalem which is from above, is free, which is 
the mother of us all. v. 28, Now, we, brethren, as Isaac was, are 
the children of promise. John i. 13, Which were born not of blood, 
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And 
iii. 5, 6, Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, [Nico- 
demus] except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot 
enter into the kingdom of God. — That which is born of the Spirit 
is spirit. 

g Eph. ii. 3, We were by nature the children of wrath, even as 
others. 

h Rom. iv. 8, The children of the promise are counted for the 
seed. 

i Heb. xi. 13, These all — confessed that they were strangers aud 
pilgrims on the earth. 1 Pet. ii. 11, Dearly beloved, I beseech you 
as strangers and pilgrims, &c. 

k Phil. iii. 20, For our conversation is in heaven, from whence 
also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I 2 Cor. v. 1, 2, For we know that if our earthly house of this 
tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not 
made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, 
earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from 
heaven, v. 4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being 
burdened ; not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, 
that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 

n3 



190 GTOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

I can be prison'd, yet abroad ; 

Bound hand and foot, yet walk with God. m 

SECTION IX — The mystery of various names given to 
saints and church of Christ ; or The flesh and Spirit de- 
scribed from inanimate things, vegetables, and sensatives. 

To tell the world my proper name, 
Is both my glory and my shame : a 
For like my black but comely face, 
My name is Sin, my name is Grace, h 

Most fitly I'm assimilate 

To various things inanimate; 

A standing lake, c a running flood, d 

A fixed star, e a passing cloud, f 

m Acts xvi. 24, 25, The jailor, having received such a charge, 
thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the 
stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises 
unto God. 2 Tim. ii. 9, Wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer, 
even unto bonds ; but the word of God is not bound. 2 Cor. vi. 4, 
5, But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in 
much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, 
in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings. 

a Hos. i. 9, Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi : for ye are 
not my people, and I will not be your God. And ii. 1, Say ye unto 
your brethren, Ammi, and to your sisters, Ruhamah. v. 23, And 
I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy, and I will 
say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people ; and 
they shall say, Thou art my God. 

b Song i. 5, I am black, but comely, O, ye daughters of Jerusa- 
lem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. 1 Tim. i. 
15, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, tnat 
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief. 
Isa. lxii. 2, 3, And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all 
kings thy glory : and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the 
mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory 
in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. 

c Jer. xlviii. 11, INloab hath been at ease from his youth, and he 
hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to 
vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity : therefore, his taste re- 
mained in him, and his scent is not changed. 

d Isa. xliv. 3, I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and 
floods upon the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, 
and my blessing upon thine offspring. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 191 

A Cake unturn'd, nor cold, nor hot ; g 
A vessel sound, h a broken pot : i 
A rising" sun, ka, drooping wing ; / 
A flinty rock, m a flowing spring. » 
A rotten beam o a virid stem ;p 
A menstruous cloth, q a royal gem ; r 

e Dan. xii. 3, And they that be wise, shall shine as the bright- 
ness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as 
the stars for ever and ever — And in opposition to those called wand- 
ering stars, Jude 13. 

/Hos. vi. 4, O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, 
what shall I do unto thee ? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, 
and as the early dew it goeth away. 

g Hos. vii. 8, Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people. 
Ephraim is a cake not turned. Rev. iii. 15, I know thy works, that 
thou art neither cold nor hot ; I would thou wert cold or hot. 

h Rom. ix. 21, Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the 
same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dis- 
honour ? 

i Psalm xxxi. 12, I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind : I 
am like a broken vessel. 

k Matt. xiii. 45, Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun, 
in the kingdom of their Father. 

I Psalm lv. 6, And I said, O that I had wings like a dove 1 for 
then would I fly away, and be at rest. 

m Zech. vii. 12, They made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest 
they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of Hosts 
hath sent in his Spirit, by the former prophets. 

n John iv. 13, 14, Jesus answered and said unto her — Whoso- 
ever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; 
but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water, 
springing up unto everlasting life. 

o Isa. xvii. 9, 10, In that day shall his strong cities be as a for- 
saken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left, because of 
the children of Israel : and there shall be desolation. Because thou 
hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful 
of the rock of thy strength ; therefore shalt thou plant pleasant 
plants, and shalt set it with strange slips. Chap, xxvii. 11, When 
the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off; the wo- 
men came and set them on fire ; for it is a people of no understand- 
ing, &c. 

p Prov. xi. 28, The righteous shall flourish as a branch. Psalm 
xcii. 12, 13, The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; ha 
shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the 
house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God, 



192 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

A garden barr'd, s an open field ; t 
A gliding stream, ua fountain seaPd.i? 

Of various vegetables see 

A fair and lively map in me. 

A fragrant rose, wa noisome weed ; x 

A rotting, y yet immortal seed.# 

I'm with'ring grass, a and growiug corn; b 
A pleasant plant, c an irksome thorn ; d 

q Isa. xxx. 22, Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven 
images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold : 
thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth, shall say unto it, 
Get thee hence. Chap. lxiv. 6, But we are all as an unclean thing, 
and our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. 

r Isa. lxii. 3, Thou shalt also he a crown of glory in the hand of 
the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hands of thy God. 

s Song iv. 12, A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse. 

t Matt. xiii. 24, 25, Another parable put he forth unto them, 
saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a a man which sowed 
good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and 
sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 

u Song iv. 5, [My sister is] a fountain of gardens, a well of liv- 
ing waters, and streams from Lebanon. 

v Song iv. 12. A spring shut up, a fountain sealed, is my sister, 
my spouse. 

w Isa. xxxv. 1, The wilderness and the solitary place shall be 
glad for them ; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. 

x Isa. v. 4, What could have been done more to my vineyard, 
that I have not done in it ? wherefore, when I looked that it should 
bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes. 

y Gen. iii. 19, In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till 
thou return unto the ground ; for out of it wast thou taken ; for dust 
thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return. 

z 1 Pet. i. 23, Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of 
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 

a Isa. xl. 7, The grass withereth, the flower fadeth ; because the 
Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it ; surely the people is grass. 

b Hos. xiv. 7, They that dwell under his shadow shall return; 
they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine : the scent thereof 
shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 

c Isa. v, 7, The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of 
Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant. 

d Mic. vii. 4, The best of them is a brier ; the most upright is 
sharper than a thorn-hedge. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 193 

An empty vine, e a fruitful tree \f 
An humble shrub, g a cedar high, h 

A noxious brier, u harmless pine ; k 
A sapless twig, / a bleeding vine : m 
A stable fir, n a pliant bush ; o 
A noble oak, p a naughty rush, q 

e Hos. x. 1, Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto 
himself. 

/Psalm i. 3, And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of 
water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season ; his leaf also shall 
not wither, and whatsoever he doth shall prosper. 

g Ezek. xvii. 5, 6, He [a great eagle] took also of the seed of the 
land, and planted it in a fruitful field, he placed it by great waters, 
and set it as a willow-tree. And it grew, and became a spreading 
vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots 
thereof were turned toward him ; so it became a vine, and brought 
forth branches, and shot forth sprigs, v. 24, And all the trees of 
the field shall know that 1 the Lord have brought down the high tree, 
have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have 
made the dry tree to flourish : I the Lord have spoken and have 
done it. Mark iv. 30, 31, And Jesus said, Whereunto shall ye liken 
the kingdom of God ? or, with what comparison shall ye compare it? 
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown on the 
earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth. 

h Psalm xcii. 12, The righteous shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 

i Mic. vii. 4, See letter c. 

k Isa. xli. 19, I will set in the desert the fir-tree, and the pine, 
and the box-tree together. 

7 John xv. 4, Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot 
bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine ; no more can ye, 
except ye abide in me. v. 6, If a man abide not in me, he is cast 
forth as a branch, and is withered. 

m John xv. 5, I am the vine, ye are the branches : he that abid- 
eth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit ; for 
without me ye can do nothing. Song ii. 13, The fig-tree putteth 
forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good 
smell, v. 15, Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines ; 
for our vines have tender grapes. 

n Isa. Iv. 13, Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and 
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree ; and it shall be to 
the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. 
And lx. 13, The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, 
the pine-tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my 
sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 

o Matt. xi. 7, And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the 



194 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

With sensatives I may compare, 
While I their various natures share : 
Their distinct names may justly suit 
A strange, a reasonable brute, r 

The sacred page my state describes 
From volatile and reptile tribes ; 
From ugly vipers, s beauteous birds ; t 
From soaring hosts, wand swinish herds, v 

I'm rank'd with beasts of different kinds, 
With spiteful tigers, w loving hinds ; x 

multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness 
to see ? A reed shaken with the wind ? 

p Isa. vi. 13, But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, 
and shall be eaten ; as a teil-tree, and as an oak, whose substance is 
in them when they cast their leaves ; so the holy seed shall be the 
substance thereof. 

q Isa. Iviii. 5, Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a 
man to afflict his soul ? is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, 
and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him ? wilt thou call this a 
fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord ? 

r Psalm lxxiii. 22, So foolish was 1 [Asaph], and ignorant"; I 
was a beast before thee. Prov. xxx. 2, Surely I [Agur] am more 
brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. 

s Matt. iii. 7, But when John saw many of the Pharisees and 
Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of 
vipers, &c. 

t Song ii. 12, The time of the singing of birds is come, and the 
voice of the turtle is heard in our land. 

u Isa. lx. 8, Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as doves to 
their windows ? 

v Matt. vii. 6, Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither 
cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their 
feet, and turn again and rend you. 2 Pet. ii. 22, But it is happened 
to them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his 
own vomit again : and the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in 
the mire. 

w Psalm xxii. 16, For dogs have compassed me, the assembly of 
the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 
Phil. iii. 2, Beware of dogs, beware of evil-workers, beware of the 
concision. 

x Psalm xviii. 33, God maketh my feet like hind's feet, and setteth 
me upon my high places. Prov. v. 19, Let her [the wife of thy 
youth] be as the loving hind, and pleasant roe ; let her breasts satisfy 
thee at all times, and be thou ravished always with her love. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 195 

And creatures of distingnish'd forms, 
With mounting eagles, y creeping worms, z 

A mixture of each sort I am : 

A hurtful snake, a a harmless lamb ; b 

A tardy ass, c a speedy roe ; d 

A lion bold, e a timorous doe./* 

A slothful owl, g a busy ant ; h 
A dove to mourn, i a lark to chant : k 
And with less equals to compare, 
An ugly toad, / an angel fair, m 

y Isa. xl. 31, They shall mount up with wings as eagles. 

z Psalm xxii. 6, But I am a worm, aud no man. Isa. xli. 14, 
Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel, &c. 

a Psalm lviii. 4, Their poison is like the poison of a serpent ; 
they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear. 

b John xxi. 15, So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon 
Peter, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these ? He 
saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He 
saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 

c Job. xi. 12, Vain man would be wise, though man be born like 
a wild ass's colt. 

d Prov. yi. 5, Deliver thyself [my son] as a roe from the hand 
of the hunter. 

e Prov. xxviii. 1, The righteous are bold as a lion. 

/Isa. ii. 19, And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and 
and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the 
glory of his Majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. 

g Psalm cii. 6, I am like an owl of the desert. 

h Prov. vi. 6, Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways 
and be wise, &c. 

i. Isa. xxxviii. 14, Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter ; 
I did mourn as a dove, mine eyes fail with looking upward ; O Lord, 
I am oppressed, undertake for me. Ezek. vii. 16, But they that 
escape of them (Israel) shall escape, and shall be on the mountains 
like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his 
iniquity. 

k Song ii. 12, The time of the singing of birds is come, and the 
voice of the turtle is heard in our land. 

I Rom. iii. 13, The poison of asps is under their lips. Job xl. 4, 
Behold, I am vile, what shall I answer thee ! I will lay my hand 
upon my mouth. 

m Acts vi. 15, And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly 
on him (Stephen), saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel. 



196 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III 

SECTION X. — The mystery of the saints' old and new man 
further described; and the means of their spiritual life. 

Temptations breed me much annoy, a 
Yet divers such I count all joy. b 
On earth I see confusions reel, c 
Yet wisdom ord'ring all things well, d 

I sleep yet have a waking ear ; e 
I'm blind and deaf yet see and hear,/* 
Dumb, yet cry, Abba, father, plain ; g 
Born only once, yet born again, h 

2 Cor. iii. 18, But we all with open face, beholding as in a glass the 
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to 
glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

a Heb. xii. 1 1, Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be 
joyous, but grievous, &c. 1 Pet. i. 6, Wherein ye greatly rejoice, 
though now for a season, (if need be) ye are in heaviness through 
manifold temptations. 

b James i. 2, My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into 
divers temptations. 

c Psalm lxxxii. 5, They know not, neither will they understand ; 
they walk on in darkness : all the foundations of the earth are out 
of course. 

d Psalm xxix. 10, The Lord sitteth upon the flood : yea, the 
Lord sitteth King for ever. And lxxxix. 9, Thou rulest the raging 
of the sea ; when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. Rom. 
viii. 28, And we know that all things work together for good, to 
them that love God, to them who are the called according to his 
purpose. 

e Song v. 2, I sleep, but my heart waketh ; it is the voice of my 
Beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me my sister, my love, my 
dove, my undefiled ; for my head is filled with dew, and my locks 
with the drops of night. 

flsa. xlii. 18, 19, Hear ye deaf, and look ye blind, that ye may 
see. Who is blind, but my servant; or deaf, as my messenger that 
I sent ? who is blind, as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's 
servant? And xxxv. 5, Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, 
and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped, 

g Isa. xxxv. 6, Then shall the tongue of the dumb sing; for in 
the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 
Rom. viii. 15, For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again 
to fear ; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, 
Abba, Father. 

h John iii. 3 — 6, Jesus answered and said unto him (Nicodemus), 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 197 

My heart's a mirror dim and bright, i 
A compound strange of day and night, k 
Of dung and diamonds, dross and gold ; / 
Of summer heat, and winter cold, m 

Down like a stone I sink and dive, n 
Yet daily upward soar and thrive, o 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born, again, he (Tan- 
not see the kingdom of God. INicodemus saith unto him, How can 
a man be born when he is old ? can he enter the second time into his 
mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say 
unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can- 
not enter into the kingdom of God, That which is born of the flesh, 
is flesh ; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit. 

i Lam. v. 17, For this our heart is faint, for these things our eyes 
are dim. lsa. xxxii. 3, And the eyes of them that see shall not be 
dim, &c. 

k Zech. xiv. 7, But it shall be one day which shall be known to 
the Lord, not day, nor night ; but it shall come to pass, that at even- 
ing time it shall be light. 

I. Mai. ii. 3, Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung 
upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts, and one shall 
take you away with it. Phil. iii. 8, Yea, doubtless, and I count all 
things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus 
my Lord ; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do 
count them but dung that I may win Christ. Isa. lxii. 3, Thou 
shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal 
diadem in the hand of thy God. Isa. i. 25, And I will turn my 
hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all 
thy tin. Job xxiii. 10, God knoweth the way that I take; when he 
hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 

m Psalm xxxix. 3, My heart was hot within me, while I was 
musing the fire burned. Luke xxiv. 32, And they said one to 
another, Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us 
by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures ? Matt. xxiv. 
12, And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax 
cold. Rev. ii. 4, Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, be- 
cause thou hast left thy first love. 

n Psalm xlii. 6, 7, Omy God, my soul is cast down within me; there- 
fore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermon- 
ites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep, at the noise of 
thy water-spouts ; all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 

o Psalm xlii. 8, 9, Yet the Lord will command his loving-kind- 
ness in the day-time, and in the night his song shall be with me, 
and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my 



198 fcOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

To heav'n I fly, to earth I tend,/? 
Still better grow, yet never mend, q 

My heav'n and glory's sure to me, 
Though therefore seldom sure I be ; r 
Yet what makes me the surer is 
God is my glory, s I am his. t 

rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because 
of the oppression of the enemy? v. 11, Why art thou cast down, 
O my soul ? and why art thou disquieted within me ? hope thou in 
God, for I will yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, 
and my God. 

p Col. iii. 1, 2, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things 
which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 
Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. 
Psalm xliv. 25, Our soul is bowed down to the dust ; our belly 
cleaveth to the earth. 

q Hos. xiv. 5, I will be as the dew uuto Israel, he shall grow as 
the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon, v. 7, They that 
dwell under his shadow shall return, they shall revive as the corn, 
and grow as the vine ; the scent thereof shall be as the wine of 
Lebanon. Phil. iii. 12 — 14, Not as though I had already at- 
tained, either were already perfect : but I follow after, if that I may 
apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended ; but this one 
thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching 
forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark, 
for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Rom. vii. 
23, 24, But I see another law in my members, warring against the 
law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, 
which is in my members. O wretched man that I am, who shall de- 
liver me from the body of this death ? 

r John xiv. 2, 3, In my Father's house are many mansions ; if it 
were not so, I would have told you ; I go to prepare a place for you. 
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and re- 
ceive you unto myself, that, where I am, there ye may be also. 2 
Pet. i. 10, Wherefore, the rather brethren, give all diligence to 
make your calling and election sure. Heb. iv. 1, Let us therefore 
fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you 
should seem to come short of it. 

s Psalm iii. 3, But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me ; my glory, 
and the lifter up of mine head. Isa. Ix. 19, The sun shall be no 
more thy light by day, neither for brightuess shall the moon give 
light unto thee, but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, 
&nd thy God thy glory. 

£ Isa. xlvi. 13, I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. 



the Believer's riddle. 199 

My life's expos'd to open view, u 
Yet closely hid and known to few. v 
Some know ray place, and whence I came, 
Yet neither whence nor where I am. w 

I live in earth, which is not odd ; 
But lo, I also live in God : x 
A Spirit without flesh and blood, 
Yet with them both to yield me food, y 

I leave what others live upon, 
Yet live I not on bread alone ; 
But food adopted to my mind, 
Bare words, yet not an empty wind, z 

2 Cor, viii. 23, Whether do any inquire of Titus, he is my partner* 
and fellow-helper concerning you ; or our brethren be inquired of, 
they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. 

u Psalm xliv. 13, Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, 
a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us. 

v Col. iii. 3, Your life is hid with Christ in God. 

w John iii. 9, 10, Mcodemus answered and said unto him, How 
can these things be ? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou 
a master of Israel, and knowest not these things ? Prov. xiv. 10, 
The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not in- 
termeddle with his joy. 1 John iv. 16, And we have known and 
believed the love that God hath to us. God is love ; and he that 
dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. 

x Gal. ii. 20, I am crucified with Christ: Nevertheless I live, yet 
not I, but Christ liveth in me : and the life which I now live in the 
flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave 
himself for me. 

y John iv. 24, God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must 
worship him in Spirit and in truth. And vi. 53 — 55, Then said 
Jesus unto them, (the Jews) Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except 
ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, ye have no 
life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood hath 
eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh 
is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 

z Matt. iv. 4, But Jesus answered and said (unto the tempter,) It 
is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word 
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Jer. xv. 10, Thy words 
were found, and I did eat them ; and thy word was unto me the jov 
\ and rejoicing of mine heart, for I am called by thy name, O Lord 
God of Hosts. 



200 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

I'm no Anthrophagite rude, 

Though fed with human flesh and blood ; 

But live superlatively fine, 

My food's all Spirit, all divine, a 

I feast on fulness night and day, b 
Yet pinch'd for want I pine away, c 
My leanness, leanness, ah ! I cry ; d 
Yet fat and full of sap am I. e 

As all amphibious creatures do, 
I live in land and water too \f 

a John vi. 57, 58, As the living Father hath sent me, and I live 
by the Father : so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 
This is that bread which came down from heaven ; not as your fa- 
thers did eat manna, and are dead, he that eateth of this bread shall 
live for ever. v. 63, It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh 
profiteth nothing ; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit 
and they are life. 

b Isa. xxv. 6, And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make 
unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of 
fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. Psalm 
i. 2, But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth 
he meditate day and night. 

c Isa. xli. 17, When the poor and needy seek water, and there is 
none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, 
I the God of Israel will not forsake them. Psalm xl. 17, But I am 
poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me : thou art my help 
and deliverer, make no tarrying, O my God. 

d Isa. xxiv. 16, From the uttermost parts of the earth have we 
heard songs, even glory to the righteous : but I said, My leanness, 
my leanness, wo unto me : the treacherous dealers have dealt treacher- 
ously ; yea, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously. 

e Psalm xcii. 13, 14, Those that be planted in the house of the 
Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring 
forth fruit in old age ; they shall be fat and flourishing. And civ. 
16, The trees of the Lord are full of sap ; the cedars of Lebanon 
which he hath planted. 

f Psalm cxvi. 9, I will walk before the Lord in the land of the 
living. And Ixix. 1 , 2, Save me, O God, for the waters are come 
in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing. 
I am come unto deep waters, where the floods overflow me. And 
Ixxxviii. 17, Thy terrors came round about me daily like water, they 
compassed me about together. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 201 

To good and evil equal bent, g 
Vm both a devil, h and a saint, t 

While some men who on earth are gods, k 
Are with the God of heaven at odds, / 
My heart where hellish legions are, m 
Is with the hosts of hell at war. n 

My will fulfils what's hard to tell, 
The counsel both of Heav'n o and hell.j^ 
Heav'n, without sin, will'd sin to be ; q 
Yet will to sin, is sin in me. r 

g Rom vii. 21, I find then a law, that when I would do good evil 
is present with me. 

h John vi. 70, Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, 
and one of you is a devil? And viii. 44, Ye are of your father the 
devil, and the lusts of your fathers ye will do. James iii. 15, This 
wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 

i 1 Cor. vi. 11, And such were some of you ; but ye are washed, 
but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord 
Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 

k Psalm lxxxii. 6, I have said, Ye are gods ; and all of you are 
children of the Most High. 

I Psalm lxxxii. 1, 2, God standeth in the congregation of the 
mighty ; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge un- 
justly, and accept the persons of the wicked ? Selah. v. 5, They 
know not, neither will they understand ; they walk on in darkness ; 
all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 

m Matt. xv. 19, For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, 
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false-witness, blasphemies. 
Luke viii. 30, And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name ? and 
he said, Legion : because many devils were entered into him. 

n Eph. vi. 12, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but 
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the dark- 
ness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

o Rev. xvii. 17, For God hath put into their hearts to fulfil his 
will, and to agree, and give their kingdom to the beast, until the 
words of God shall be fulfilled. 

p Eph. ii. 3, Among whom also we all had our conversation in times 
past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of 
the mind ; and were by nature the children of wrath even as others. 

q James i. 13, Let no man say, when he is tempted, I am tempted 
of God ; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he 
any man. Acts i. 15, 16, And in those days Peter stood up in the 
midst of the disciples, and said, Men and brethren, this scripture must 

O 



202 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

To duty seldom I adhere, s 
Yet to the end I persevere.* 
I die and rot beneath the clod, u 
Yet live and reign as long as God.t; 

SECTION XI — The mystery of Christ, Ms names, natures, 
and offices. 

My Lord appears; awake, my soul, 
Admire Ins name, the Wonderful, a 
An infinite and finite mind, b 
Eternity and time eonjoin'd. c 

needs have been fulfilled which the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of 
David, spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that 
took Jesus. And ii. 23, Jesus of INazareth being delivered by the deter- 
minate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by 
wicked hands have crucified and slain. And iv. 27, 28, For of a 
truth, against thy holy child Jesus whom thou hast anointed, both 
Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, 
were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy coun- 
sel determined before to be done. 

r Hos. v. 11, Ephraim is oppressed, and broken in judgment, be- 
cause he willingly walked after the commandment. 2 Cor. viii. 11, 
12, Now therefore perform the doing of it ; that as there was a readi- 
ness to will, so there may be a performance also of that which you 
have : for if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to 
that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 

s Psalm cxix. 176, I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek thy 
servant ; for I do not forget thy commandments. 

t Heb. x. 39, But we are not of them who draw back unto per- 
dition ; but of them that believe, to the saving of the soul. 

u Psalm xc. 3, Thou turnest man to destruction, and sayest, Re- 
turn ye children of men, 

v John v. 24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my 
word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and 
shall not come into condemnation ; but is passed from death unto 
life. Rev. iii. 21, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with 
me on my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with 
my Father on his throne. And xxii. 5, And there shall be no night 
there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun ; for the 
Lord giveth them light ; and they shall reign for ever and ever. 

a Isa. ix. 6, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, 
and the government shall be upon his shoulders ; and his name 
shall be called Wonderful. 

b Psalm cxlvii. 5, Great is our Lord, and of great power; his 
understanding is infinite. Luke ii. 52, And Jesus increased in wis- 
dom and stature, and in favour with God and man. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 203 

* The everlasting Father' styl'd, 
Yet lately born, the virgin's child, d 
Nor father he, nor mother had, 
Yet full with both relations clad, e 

His titles differ and accord, 
As David's son, and David's Lord./* 
Through earth and hell he conqu'ring rode, 
The dying man, the rising God ! g 

c Gal. iv. 4, But when the fulness of the time was come, God 
sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. 

d Isa. ix. 6, For unto us a child is born : — and his name shall be 
called — The everlasting Father. Matt. i. 23, Behold a virgin shall 
be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call his 
name Emanuel, which being interpreted, is, God with us. 

e Heb. vii. 3, For this Melchisedec — without father, without mo- 
ther, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of 
life ; but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest continually. 
Luke ii. 48, 49, And when they saw him, they were amazed; and 
his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou so dealt with us ? be- 
hold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said 
unto them, How is it that ye sought me ? wist ye not that I must be 
about my Father's business ? 

/Matt. xxii. 41 — 45, While the Pharisees were gathered together, 
Jesus asked them, saying, What think ye of Christ ? whose son is he ? 
They said unto him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How- 
then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord saith unto 
my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy 
footstool ? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son ? &c. 

g Matt. xxi. 5, Tell ye the daughters of Zion, Behold, thy King 
cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal 
of an ass. v. 8, 9, And a very great multitude spread their garments 
in the way; others cut down branches from the trees and strewed 
tbem in the way. And the multitude that went before and that fol- 
lowed, cried, saying, Hosannah to the son of David: blessed is he 
that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosannah in the highest. 
u.^12, And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them 
that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the 
money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves. Col. ii. 15, 
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of 
them openly, triumphing over them in it [his cross]. Rom. iv. 25, 
Jesus our Lord was delivered for our offences, and was raised again 
for our justification. Eph. iv. 8, Wherefore he [David] saith, When 
he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto 
men. Rom. i. 4, Jesus Christ our Lord, was declared to be the Son 

o 2 



204 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

My nature is corruption doom'd : h 
Yet when my nature he assum'd, 
He nor on him (to drink the brook) i 
My person nor corruption took, k 

Yet he assum'd my sin and guilt, / 
For which the noble blood was spilt. 
Great was the guilt-o'erflowing flood, 
The creature's and Creator's blood, m 

of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness by the resur- 
rection from the dead. 

h Eph. iv. 23, Put off, concerning the former conversation, the old 
man which is corrupt, according to the deceitful lusts. 

i Psalm ex. 7, He shall drink of the brook in the way ; therefore 
shall he lift up the head. 

k Rom. viii. 3, God sent his own Son, in the likeness of sinful 
flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. John i. 14, And the 
Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, 
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and 
truth. Luke i. 35, Aud the angel answered and said unto Mary, 
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest 
shall overshadow thee : therefore also that holy thing which shall be 
born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. Heb. ii. 16, For 
verily, he took not on him the nature of angels ; but he took on him 
the seed of Abraham. And vii. 26, 27, For such an High Priest 
became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sin- 
ners, and made higher than the heavens ; who needeth not daily, as 
those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then 
for the people's ; for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 

I Isa. liii. 5, 6, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have 
turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the 
iniquity of us all. 2 Cor. v. 21, God hath made Christ to be sin 
for us, who knew no sin ; that we might be made the righteousness 
of God in him. Matt. xx. 28, The Son of Man came to give his 
life a ransom for many. 

to Rom. iii. 25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, 
through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the re- 
mission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. Acts 
xx. 28, Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with hi9 
own blood. 1 Pet. i. 18, 19, For as much as ye know that ye were 
not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your 
vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers ; but with 
the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and with- 
out spot. 1 John iii. 16, Hereby perceive we the love of God, 
because he laid down his life for us. 



the Believer's riddle. 205 

The Chief of chiefs amazing came, n 
To bear the glory and the shame ; o 
Anointed Chief with oil of joy, p 
Crown'd Chief with thorns of sharp annoy, q 

Lo, in his white and ruddy face 
Roses and lilies strive for place; r 
The morning-star, the rising sun, 
With equal speed and splendour run. s 

How glorious is the church's head, 
The son of God, the woman's seed : t 
How searchless is his noble clan, u 
The first, the last, the second man. v 

n Rev. v. 4, 5, Grace be unto you, and peace from — Jesus Christ, 
who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and 
the Prince of the kings of the earth. 

o Zech. vi. 12, 13, Behold, the man whose name is the BRANCH 
— he shall build the temple of the Lord, and he shall bear the glory. 
Heb. xii. 2, Jesus, for the joy that was set before him, endured the 
cross, despising the shame, &c. 

p Psalm xlv. 7, Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness, 
therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness 
above thy fellows. 

q Matt, xxvii. 29, And when they had platted a crown of thorns, 
they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they 
bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of 
the Jews. 

r Song ii. 1, I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. 
And v. 10, My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefe.st among ten 
thousand. 

5 Rev. xxii. 16, I [Jesus] am the root and the offspring of David, 
and the bright and morning star. Mai. iv. 2, But unto you that 
fear my name, shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in 
his wings ; and ye shall go forth, and grow up, as calves of the stall. 

t Col. i 18, And Christ is the head of the body, the church ; 
who is the beginning, the first born from the dead ; that in all things 
he might have the pre-emineuce. John iii. 16, God so loved the 
world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth 
in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. Gen. iii. 15, 
And I [the Lord God] will put enmity between thee and the woman, 
and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and 
thou shalt bruise his heel. 

u Isa. liii. 8, He was taken from prison and from judgment ; and 

o 3 



206 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

With equal brightness in his face, 
Shines divine justice, divine grace ; w 
The jarring glories kindly meet, 
Stern vengeance and compassion sweet, x 

God is a Spirit, seems it odd 
To sing aloud the blood of God. y 
Yea, hence my peace and joy result, 
And here my lasting hope is built, z 

who shall declare his generation ? Prov. xxx. 4, Who hath ascended 
up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his 
fists ? who hath bound the waters in a garment ? who hath established 
all the ends of the earth ? what is his name, and what is his Son's 
name, if thou canst tell ? 

v Rev. i. 2, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. 1 Cor. 
xv. 45, The last Adam was made a quickening spirit, v. 47, The 
second man is the Lord from heaven. 

w 2 Cor. iv. 6, For God who commanded the light to shine out 
of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the know- 
ledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. Rom. iii. 24, 
25, 26, Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption 
that is in Jesus Christ : whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, 
through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the re- 
mission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God : to 
declare, I say, at this time his righteousness ; that he might be just, 
and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Eph. i. 6, 7, To 
the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted 
in the beloved : in whom we have redemption through his blood, the 
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. 

x Rom. v. 20, 21, But where sin abounded, grace did much more 
abound : that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace 
reign through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Psalm lxxxv. 10, Mercy and truth are met together, righte- 
ousness and peace have kissed each other. 

y John iv. 24, God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must 
worship him in spirit and in truth. Acts xx. 28, Feed the church 
of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 

z Rom. v. 1, Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace 
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, v. 10, For if when we 
were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son : 
much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 1 Pet. 
iii. 15, Be ready always to give an answer to every one that asketh 
you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. 
v. 18, For Christ hath also once suffered for sins, the just for the 
unjust, (that he might bring us to God), being put to death in the 
flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 207 

Love through his blood a vent has sought, 
Yet divine love was never bought ; 
Mercy could never purchas'd be, 
Yet ev'ry mercy purchas'd he. a 

His triple station broke my peace, 
The Altar, Priest, and sacrifice ; b 
His triple office ev'ry thing, 
My Priest, my Prophet is, and King, c 

This King who only man became, 
Is both the Lion and the Lamb : d 



a Rom. v. 9, Much more then being now justified by his blood, 
we shall be saved from wrath through him. v. 21, See letter x. 
John iii. 16, God so ]oved the world, that he gave his only begotten 
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have 
everlasting life. Rom. ix. 15, God saith to Moses, I will have mercy 
on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I 
will have compassion. Eph. i. 3, Blessed be the God and Father 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual 
blessings in heavenly places in Christ. 

b Heb. xiii. 10, We have an altar whereof they have no right to 
eat which serve the tabernacle. And ii. 17, Wherefore in all things 
it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren ; that he might be 
a merciful and faithful high priest, in things pertaining to God, to 
make reconciliation for the sins of the people. And ix. 26, But now, 
once in the end of the world, hath Christ appeared to put away sin 
by the sacrifice of himself. 

c Acts vii. 37, This is that Moses which said unto the children of 
Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your 
brethren, like unto me ; him shall ye hear. Isa. xxxiii. 22, The 
Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our King, 
he will save us. 

d 1 Tim. iii. 16, And without controversy, great is the mystery 
of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, &c. Rev. v. 5, 6, And 
one of the elders saith unto me {\Tohn~j, Weep not : behold the Lion 
of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the 
book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and lo, 
in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, and in the midst 
of the elders stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns, 
and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into 
all the earth, v. 12, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive 
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, 
and blessing. 



208 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III, 

A King of kings and kingdoms broad ; e 
A servant both to man and God./ 

This Prophet kind himself has set 
To be my book and alphabet, 
And ev'ry needful letter plain, 
Alpha, Omega, and Amen, g 

SECTION XII — The mystery of the Believer' s fixed state 
further enlarged ; and his getting forth out of evil. 

Behold, I'm all dehTd with sin, a 
Yet lo, all glorious am within b 

e Rev. xix. 16, And he [the Word of God] hath on his vesture 
and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD 
OF LORDS. Isa. xxxvii. 15, 16, And Hezekiah prayed unto the 
Lord, saying, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between 
the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the king- 
doms of the earth, thou hast made heaven and earth Rev. xi. 15, 

And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, 
saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our 
Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. 

/"Matt. xv. 28, The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, 
but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Phil. ii. 7, 
Christ Jesus made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the 
form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Isa. xlii. 1, 
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul 
delighteth. And liii. 1 1 , By his knowledge shall my righteuos servant 
justify many. 

g Rev. i. 3, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, 
saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the 
Almighty, v. 11, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last; 
and, what thou (John) seest, write in a book, and send it unto the 
seven churches which are in Asia. And xxi. 6, I am Alpha and 
Omega, the beginning and the end : I will give unto him that is 
athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. And xxii. 13, I 
am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the 
last. And iii. 14, And unto the angel of the church of the Laodice- 
ans write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, 
the beginning of the creation of God, &c. 

a Isa. Ixiv. 6, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our 
righteousnesses are as filthy rags. 

b Psalm xlv. 13, The King's daughter is all glorious within; her 
clothing is of wrought gold. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 209 

In Egypt and in Goshen dwell ; c 
Still moveless, and in motion still, d 

Unto the name that most I dread, 
I flee with joyful wings and speed, e 
My daily hope does most depend 
On him I daily most offend.y 

All things against me are combin'd, 
Yet working for my good, I find, g 
I'm rich in midst of poverties, h 
And happy in my miseries, i 

Oft my Comforter sends me grief, 
My helper sends me no relief, k 

c Psalm cxx. 5, 6, Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech, that I 
dwell in the tents of Kedar. My soul hath long dwelt with him that 
hateth peace. And xvi. 5, 6, The Lord is the portion of mine in- 
heritance, and of my cup : thou maintainest my lot. The lines are 
fallen to me in pleasant places: yea, I have a goodly heritage. 

d 1 Cor. xv. 58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, 
unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch 
as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 

e Psalm cxliii. 2, O Lord enter not into judgment with thy servant : 
for in thy sight shall no man living be justified, v. 9, Deliver me, 

Lord, from mine enemies; I flee unto thee to hide me. 
/Psalm xxv. 11, For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine ini- 
quity ; for it is great. Jer. xiv. 7, O Lord, though our iniquities 
testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake ; for our backslid- 
ings are many, we have sinned against thee. 

g Gen. xlii. 36, And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have 
ye bereaved of my children : Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye 
will take Benjamin away : all these things are against me. Rom. viii. 
28, And we know that all things work together £or good to them 
that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

h Rev. ii. 8, 9, And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna, write, 
These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive ; 

1 know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich.) 

i Rom. v. 3 — 5, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, 
knowing that tribulation worketh patience ; and patience, experience ; 
and experience, hope ; and hope makethnot ashamed, because the love 
of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given 
unto us. 2 Cor. xii. 10, Therefore I [Paul] take pleasure in infir- 
mities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, 
for Christ's sake ; for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

k Lam. i 16, For these things I weep, mine eye, mine eye runneth 



210 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

Yet herein my advantage lies, 
The help and comfort he denies. / 

As seamsters into pieces cut 
The cloth they into form would put, 
He cuts me down to make me up, 
And empties me to fill my cup. m 

I never can myself enjoy, 
Till he my woful self destroy ; 
And most of all myself I am, 
When most I do myself disclaim, n 

I glory in infirmities, o 

Yet daily am asham'd of these ;p 

down with water, because the comforter, that should relieve my soul, 
is far from me. Isa. xlv 15, Verily thou art a God that hidest thy- 
self, O God of Israel, the Saviour. 

/ Isa. xxx. 18, And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be 
gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have 
mercy upon you : for the Lord is a God of judgment ; blessed are 
all they that wait for him. 

m Hos. v. 15, I will go and return to my place, till they acknow- 
ledge their offence, and seek my face ; in their affliction they will 
seek me early. And vi. 1, 2, Come and let us return unto the Lord ; 
for he hath torn, and he will heal us : he hath smitten, and he will 
bind us up. After two days he will revive us, in the third day he 
will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Psalm cvii. 9, God 
satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. 
Luke i. 53, And Mary said,— He hath filled the hungry with good 
things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. 

n Luke ix. 23, 24, And Jesus said to them, If any man will come 
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow 
me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it : but whosoever 
will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Rom. viii. 13, 
If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die ; but if ye, through the spirit, 
do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 2 Cor. xii. 10, 
See letter i. 

o 2 Cor. xii. 9, Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my 
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

p Psalm lxxiii. 15, 16, If I say, I will speak thus ; behold, I should 
offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to 
know this, it was too painful for me. And lxxvii. 8 — 10. Is his 
mercy clean gone for ever ? doth his promise fail for evermore ; 
hath God forgotten to be gracious ; hath he in anger shut up his 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 211 

Yea, all my pride gives up the ghost, 
When once I but begin to boast, q 

My chemistry is most exact, 
Heav'n out of hell I do extract : r 
This art to me a tribute brings 
Of useful out of hurtful things. $ 

I learn to draw well out of woe, 
And thus to disappoint the foe ; t 
The thorns that in my flesh abide, 
Do prick the tympany of pride, u 

tender mercies? Selah. And I said, This is my infirmity ; but I 
will remember the years of tbe right hand of the Most High. 

q Isa. xlv. 24, 25. Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I 
righteousness and strength : even to him shall men come, and all 
that are incensed against him, shall be ashamed. In the Lord shall 
all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. Psalm xliv. 6, 
I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. v. 8, In 
God we boast all the day long ; and praise thy name for ever. Selah. 

r Jonah ii. 1, 2, Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out 
of the fish's belly, and said, I cried, by reason of mine affliction 
unto the Lord, and he heard me ; out of the belly of hell cried I, 
and thou heardst my voice, v. 3, Then I said, I am cast out of thy 
sight ; yet I will look again toward my holy temple. Matt. xv. 
26 — 28, But Jesus answered and said [unto the woman of Canaan], 
It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to the dogs. 
And she said, Truth, Lord ; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs wliich 
fall from their master's table. Then Jesus answered and said unto 
her, O woman, great is thy faith : be it unto thee even as thou wilt. 
And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Psalm xlii. 
6 — 8. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore 
will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermon- 
ites, from the hill Mizar„ Deep calleth unto deep, at the noise of 
thy water spouts : all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 
Yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day-time, and 
in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God 
of my life. 

s Rom. v. 3, 4, 5. See letter i. 

t Mic. vii. 4, Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy ; when I 
fall, I shall arise ; when 1 sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light 
unto me. 

u 2 Cor. xii. 7, And lest I should be exalted above measure, 
through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a 
thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should 
be exalted above measure. 



212 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

By wounding foils the field I win, 
And sin itself destroys my sin : v 
My lusts break one another's pate, 
And each corruptiou kills its mate, w 

I smell the bait, I feel the harm 

Of corrupt ways, and take th' alarm. 

v Rom. viii. 35, 37, Who shall separate us from the love of 
Christ ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or 
nakedness, or peril, or sword ? Nay, in all these things we are more 
than conquerors, through him that loved us. Psalm lxv. 3, Iniqui- 
ties prevail against me ; as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge 
them away. 2 Chron. xxxii. 24 — 26, In those days Hezekiah 
was sick to death, and prayed unto the Lord ; and he spake unto 
him, and he gave him a sign. But Hezekiah rendered not again, 
according to the benefit done unto him : for his heart was lifted up : 
therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 
Notwithstanding, Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his 
heart, (both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,) so that the wrath 
of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. 

w Rom. vii. 7 — 9, What shall we say then? Is the law sin? 
God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin but by the law : for I had 
not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But 
bin taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner 
of concupiscence. For without the law, sin was dead. For I was 
alive without the law once : but when the commandment came, sin 
revived, and I died. v. 11, For sin taking occasion by the com- 
mandment; deceived me, and by it slew me. v. 13, Was then that 
which is good made death unto me ? God forbid. But sin that it 
might appear sin, working death in me by that whieh is good ; that 
sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. Where 
you seethe fight and feeling of sin, killed self John ix. 39 — 41, 
And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world ; that they 
which see not, might see : and that they which see, might be made 
blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him, heard these 
words, and said unto him, Are we blind also ? Jesus said unto them, 
If ye were blind ye should have no sin : but now ye say, We see : 
therefore your sin remaineth. Psalm lix. 11, Slay them not lest 
my people forget ; scatter them by thy power ; and bring them 
down, O Lord, our shield. Matt. xxvi. 33, 34, Peter answered 
and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, 
yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto 
thee, that this night before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 
v. 75, And Peter remembered the words of Jesus which he said unto 
him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he 
went out, and wept bitterly. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 213 

I taste the bitterness of sin, 
And then to relish grace begin, x 

I hear the fools profanely talk, 
Thence wisdom learn in word and walk : y 
I see them throng the passage broad, 
And learn to take the narrow road, z 

SECTION XIII. — The mystery of the Saint's adversaries 
and adversities, 

A lump of woe affliction is, 

Yet thence I borrow lumps of bliss : a 

x Rom. vi. 21, What fruit had ye then in those things, whereof 
ye are now ashamed ? for the end of those things is death. Psalm 
xix. 11, Moreover, by them (the judgments of the Lord) is thy ser- 
vant warned; and in keeping of them there is great reward. And 
lxxiii. 17 — 19, Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then 
understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery 
places ; thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they 
brought into desolation as in a moment ; they are utterly consumed 
with terrors. Jer. ii. 19, Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, 
and thy backslidings shall reprove thee ; know therefore and see, 
that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord 
thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of 
hosts. 

y Job xxi. 13 — 15, They spend their days in wealth, and in a 
moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, De- 
part from us ; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What 
is the Almighty, that we should serve him ? and what profit should 
we have if we pray unto him? Eph. iv. 20 — 22, But ye have 
'not so learned Christ ; if so be that ye have heard him, and been 
taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus ; that ye put off, concerning 
the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt, according to 
the deceitful lusts. And v. 6 — 8, Let no man deceive you with 
vain words; for because of these things cometh the wrath of God 
upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers 
with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light 
in the Lord ; walk as children of light, v. 1 1 , And have no fellow- 
ship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 
z Matt. vii. 13, 14, Enter ye in at the strait gate ; for wide is the 
gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many 
there be which go in thereat ; because strait is the gate, and narrow 
Is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 
t a Heb. xii. 11, Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be 



214 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

Though few can see a blessing in't, 
It is my furnace and my mint, b 

Its sharpness does my lusts dispatch ; c . 

Its suddenness alarms my watch, d 

Its bitterness refines my taste, 

And weans me from the creature's breast, e 

Its weightiness does try my back, 
That faith and patience be not slack, f 
It is a fanning wind whereby 
I am unchafFd of vanity, g 

A furnace to refine my grace, h 
A wing to lift my soul apace ; i 

joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peace- 
able fruit of righteousness, unto them which are exercised thereby. 
James i. 12, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation : for when 
he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath 
promised to them that love him. 

b Isa. xxxi. 9, And he [the Assyrian] shall pass over to his strong 
hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the 
Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem. 

c Psalm xlv. 5, Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's 
enemies ; whereby the people fall under thee. 

d Mark xiii. 35 — 37, Watch ye therefore, (for ye know not when 
the master of the house cometh : at even, or at midnight, or at the 
cock crowing, or in the morning), lest coming suddenly, he find you 
sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch. 

e Jer. ii. 19, See letter w forecited. And iv. 18, Thy way and 
thy doings have procured these things unto thee, this is thy wicked- 
ness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart. 

f James i. 2 — 4, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into 
divers temptations : knowing this, that the trying of your faith 
worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye 
may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

g Tsa. xxvii. 8, 9, In measure when it shooteth forth, thou wilt 
debate with it ; he stayeth his rough wind in the day of his east 
wind. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and 
this is all the fruit to take away his sin. 

h Mai. iii. 3, And he [the messenger of the covenant] shall sit 
as a refiner and purifier of silver ; and he shall purify the sons of 
Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto 
the Lord an offering in righteousness 

i Psalm cxliii. 9, Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I> 
flee unto thee to hide me. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 215 

Hence still the more I sob distrest, 
The more I sing my endless rest, k 

Mine enemies that seek my hurt, 

Of all their bad designs come short ; / 

They serve me fully to my mind, 

With favours which they ne'er design'd. m 

The fury of my foes makes me 
Fast to my peaceful refuge flee : n 
And ev'ry persecuting elf 
Does make me understand myself, o 

k 2 Cor. iv. 16, 17, For which cause we faint not, but though 
our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a 
far more exceeding, and eternal weight of glory. 

I Psalm xxxiii. 10, The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen 
to nought : he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 

m Gen. 1. 20, And Joseph said unto his brethren — As for you, ye 
thought evil against me ; but God meant it unto good, to bring to 
pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 

n Psalm Iv. 23, But thou, O God, shall bring them down into the 
pit of destruction ; bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half 
their days ; but I will trust in thee. 

o My sin, Isa. xlii. 24, Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to 
the robbers ? did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned ? 
for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto 
his law. My duty, 2 Sam. xvi. 11, 12, And David said to Abishai, 
and to all his servants, Behold my son which came forth of my 
bowels, seeketh my life ; how much more now may this Benjaminite 
h do it ? let him alone, and let him curse : for the Lord hath bidden 
him. It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that 
the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day. Mic. vii. 8, 
9, Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy ; when I fall I shall arise; 
when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. I will 
bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, 
! until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me : he will 
bring me forth to the light, and 1 shall behold his righteousness. 
My safety, Psalm ix. 9, 10, The Lord also will be a refuge for the 
I oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy 
name, will put their trust in thee. v. 16, The Lord is known by 
the judgment which he executeth ; the wicked is snared in the work 
Higgaion. Selah. 



216 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. ] 

Their slanders cannot work my shame,/) 
Their vile reproaches raise my name ; q 
In peace with Heav'n my soul can dwell, 
Ev'n when they damn me down to hell, r 

Their fury can't the treaty harm, s 
Their passion does my pity warm ; t 
Their madness only calms my blood; u 
By doing hurt they do me good, v 

p Psalm xxvi. 13, 14, For I have heard the slander of many, fear 
was on every side, while they took counsel together against me, they 
devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O Lord ; I 
said, Thou art my God. 

q 1 Pet. iv. 14, If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy | 
are ye ; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you ; on j 
their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 

r Num. xxiii 7, 8, And Balaam took up his parable and said, Ba- 
lak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the moun- 
tains of the east, saying, Come curse me Jacob, and come defy Israel, 
rlow shall I curse whom God hath not cursed ; or how shall I defy, 
vhom the Lord hath not defied ? v. 23, Surely there is no enchant- 
ment against Jacob, neither is their any divination against Israel ; 
according to this time it shall be said of Jacob, and of Israel, What 
hath God wrought? 

s Prov. xxvi. 2, As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by fly- 
ing, so the curse causeless shall not come. 

t 1 Pet. iii. 8, 9, Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compas- 
sion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous; not 
rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise, bles- 
sing ; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit 
a blessing. 

u Psalm Ixix. 12, 13, They that sit in the gate speak against me : 
and I was the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer 
is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multi- 
tude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. 

v Gen. 1. 20, See letter m forecited. Esther ix, 20 — 25, And 
Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that 
were in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, to 
stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day 
of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same yearly ; as the 
days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month 
which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning 
into a good day ; that they should make them days of feasting and 
joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. 
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 217 

They are my sordid slaves I wot; 
My drudges, though they know it not : w 
They act to me a kindly part, 
With little kindness in their heart, x 



had written unto them. Because Haman the son of Hammedatha 
the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews 
to destroy them, and had cast Pur, (that is the lot) to consume them, 
and to destroy them ; but when Esther came before the king, he 
commanded by letters, that his wicked device which he devised against 
the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons 
should be hanged on the gallows. 

w Jer. xxv. 8, 9, Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Because 
ye have not heard my words, behold I will send and take all the 
families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadnezzar the king 
of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and 
against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round 
about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonish- 
ment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations, v. 12, And it shall 
come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that 1 will punish 
the king of Babylon and that nation, saith the Lord, for their ini- 
quity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual de- 
solations. Isa. x. 5,6, O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the 
staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an 
hypocritical nation ; and against the people of my wrath will I give 
him a charge to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread 
them down like the mire of the streets, v. 12, Wherefore it shall 
come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work 
upon mount Zion, and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the 
stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. 
And xliv. 24, 28, Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer, and he that 
formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that saith of Cyrus, he 
is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying to 
Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built ; and to the temple, Thy foundations 
shall be laid. And xlv. 1, Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to 
Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him ; 
and I will loose the loins of kings to open before him the two-leaved 
gates, and the gates shall not be shut. v. 4, For Jacob my servant's 
sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name ; 
I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. 

x Matt. v. 10—12, Blessed are they which are persecuted for 
righteousness sake ; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed 
are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say 
all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be 
exceeding glad : for great is your reward in heaven ; for so perse- 
cuted they the prophets which were before you. Luke vi. 22, 23, 

P 



218 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

They sweep my outer house when foul, 
Yea, wash my inner filth of soul : y 
They help to purge away my blot, 
For Moab is my washing pot. z 

SECTION XIV. — The mystery of the Believer's pardon 
and security from revenging wrath, notwithstanding his sins* 
desert. 

I, though from condemnation free, 
Find such condemnables in me, 
As make more heavy wrath my due 
Than falls on all the damned crew, a 

But though my crimes deserve the pit, 
I'm no more liable to it : 

Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall sepa- 
rate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out 
your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice ye in that 
day, and leap for joy ; for behold your reward is great in heaven ; 
for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 

y Isa. iv. 3 — 5, And it shall come to pass, that he that is left 
in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, 
even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem ; when 
the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, 
and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, 
by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the 
Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon 
her assemblies a cloud, and smoke by day, and the shining of a flam- 
ing fire by night ; for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And 
xxvii. 9, By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and 
this is all the fruit to take away his sin ; when he maketh all the 
stones of the altar as chalk stones that are beaten in sunder, the 
groves and images shall not stand up. 

z Psalm Ixviii. 8, Moab is my wash pot, &c. 

a Rom. viii. 8, There is therefore now no condemnation to them 
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the 
Spirit. And vii. 18, For I know that in me, (that is in my flesh) 
dwelleth no good thing ; for to will is present with me, but how to 
perform that which is good, I find not. 1 Tim. i. 15, 16, This is 
a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus 
came into the world to save sinners ; of whom I am the chief. 
Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus 
Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which 
should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 219 

Remission seaPd with blood and death, 
Secures me from deserved wrath, b 

And having now a pardon free, 
To hell obnoxious cannot be, 
Nor to a threat, except* anent 
Paternal wrath and chastisement, c 

My soul may oft be filPd indeed, 
With slavish fear and hellish dread, d 
This from my unbelief does spring, e 
My faith speaks out some better thing. 

Faith sees no legal guilt again, 
Though sin and its desert remain \f 

b Gal. iii. 13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, 
being made a curse for us ; for it is written, Cursed is every one that 
hangeth on a tree. Rom v. 9, Much more then being now justi- 
fied by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 
Eph. i. 7, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the for- 
giveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. 

c 1 Thess. i. 10, And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he 
raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath 
to come. Isa. liv. 9, 10, For this is as the waters of Noah unto 
me ; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go 
over the earth ; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, 
nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be 
removed ; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall 
the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath 
mercy on thee. Psalm lxxxix. 30 — 33, If his children forsake my 
law, and walk not in my judgments ; if they break my statues, and 
keep not my commandments : then will I visit their transgression 
with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my 
loviDg-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faith- 
fulness to fail. 

d Matt. xiv. 26, And when the disciples saw Jesus walking on 
the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit ; and they cried 
out for fear. 

e Mark iv. 40, And Jesus said unto his disciples, Why are ye so 
fearful ? how is it that ye have no faith? 

f Rom. vii. 6, But now we are delivered from the law, that being 
dead wherein we were held ; that we should serve in newness of 
spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. Chap. viii. 3, 4, For 

* About. 
P2 



220 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

Some hidden wonders henee result : 
I'm full of sin, yet free of guilt, g 

Guilt is the legal bond or knot, 
That binds to wrath and vengeance hot ; k 
But sin may be where guilt's away, 
And guilt where sin can never stay. 

Guilt without any sin has been, 
As in my surety may be seen ; 
The" elect's guilt upon him came, 
Yet still he was the holy Lamb, i 

Sin without guilt may likewise be y 
As may appear in pardon'd me : 
For though my sin, alas ! does stay, 
Yet pardon takes the guilt away, k 

what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, 
God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, 
condemned sin in the flesh : that the righteousness of the law might 
be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

g Rom. iv. 14, For we know that the law is spiritual : but I am 
carnal, sold under sin. Chap. viii. 33, 34, Who shall lay any thing 
to the charge of God's elect ? It is God that justifieth, who is he 
that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen 
again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh inter- 
cession for us. 

h Deut. xxvii. 26, Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words 
of the law to do them : and all the people shall say, Amen. Rom. 
i. 18, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all un- 
godliness, and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in un- 
righteousness. 

i Isa. liii. 6, The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 
Heb. vii. 26, For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harm- 
less, undefiled, separate from sinners. 

k Rom. vii. 24, O wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver 
me from the body of this death ? Acts xiii. 38, 39, Be it known 
unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is 
preached unto you the forgiveness of sins : and by him all that be- 
lieve are justified from all things from which ye could not be justi- 
fied by the law of Moses. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 221 

Thus free I am, yet still involv'd ; 
A guilty sinner yet absolved : / 
Though pardon leave no guilt behind, 
Yet sin's desert remains 1 find, m 

Guilt and demerit differ here, 
Though oft their names confounded are* 
I'm guilty in myself always, 
Since sin's demerit ever stays, n 

Yet in my Head Fm always free 
From proper guilt affecting me ; 
Because my surety's blood cancell'd 
The bond of curses once me held, o 



I Rom. iii. 19, Now we know that what tilings soever the law 
•saith, it saith to them who are under the law : that every mouth 
may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 
v. 23, 24, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God ; 
being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in 
Jesus Christ. 

m Rom. iv. 6 — 8, Even as David also describeth the blessedness 
of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 
saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose 
sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not 
impute sin. Psalm li. 3, 4, For I ackowledge my transgressions; 
and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only have 1 sin- 
ned, and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified 
when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. And cxliii. 2. 
O Lord, enter not into judgment with thy servant ; for iu thy sight 
can no man living be justified. 

n Rom. vii. 13, 14, Was then that which is good, made death unto 
me ? God forbid, But sin, that it might appear sin, working death 
in me by that which is good ; that sin by the commandment might 
become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual ; 
but I am carnal, sold under sin. Eph. v. 6, Let no man deceive you 
with vain words ; for because of these things cometh the wrath of God 
upon the children of disobedience. 

o Rom. v. 1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace 
with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, v. 9, Much more then 
being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through 
him. v. 1 !, And not only so, but we also joy in God, through our 
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 

p3 



222 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

The guilt that pardon'd did divorce, 
From legal threat'nings drew its force %p 
But sin's desert that lodges still, 
Is drawn from sin's intrinsic ill. q 

Were guilt nought else but sin's desert? 
Of pardon I'd renounce ray part : 
For were I now in heav'n to dwell, 
I'd own my sins deserved hell, r 

This does my highest wonder move 
At matchless justifying love, 
That thus secures for endless death 
A wretch deserving double wrath, s 

p Gal. iii. 10, For as many as are of the works of the law, are 
under the curse ; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continuetk 
not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 
v. 13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being 
made a curse for us ; for it is written, Cursed is every one that 
hangeth on a tree. 

q Psalm li. 4, See letter m forecited. Luke xv. 18, I will arise and 
go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against 
heaven and before thee. 

r Luke xv. 19, And am no more worthy to be called thy son. 
Rev. v. 4, And 1 [John] wept much, because no man was found wor- 
thy to open, and read the book, neither to look thereon, v. 9, And 
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, 
and to open the seals thereof ; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed 
us to God by thy blood, out of every* kindred, and tongue, and people, 
and nation, v. 11 — 13, And I beheld, and I heard the voice of 
many angels round the throne, and the beasts, and the elders ; the 
number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands 
of thousands ; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that 
was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, 
and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is 
in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in 
the sea, and all that are in them, heard I, saying, Blessing, and 
honour, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the 
throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 

s Rom. vii. 24, 25, O wretched man that I am! who shalFdeliver 
me from the body of this death ? I thank God, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Chap. viii. 1, There is therefore now no condemnation 
to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but 
after the Spirit. 1 Tim. i. 13, Who was before a blasphemer, and 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 223 

Though well my black desert I know, 
Yet I'm not liable to wo ; 
While full and complete righteousness 
Imputed for my freedom is. t 

Hence my security from wrath, 
As firmly stands as Jesus' death, u 
As does my title unto heav'n, 
Upon his great obedience giv'n. v 

The sentence Heav'n did full pronounce, 
Has pardon'd all my sins at once : 
And ev'n from future crimes acquit, 
Before I could the facts commit, w 

a persecutor, and injurious. But I obtained mercy, because I did it 
ignorantly, in unbelief, v. 15 — 17, This is a faithful saying, and 
worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to 
save sinners ; of whom I am the chief. Howbeit, for this cause I 
obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all 
long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe 
on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, 
and invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory, for ever and 
ever. Amen. 

t 1 Cor. i. 30, But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is 
made unto us — righteousness — and redemption. 2 Cor. v. 21, God 
hath made Christ to be sin for us, who knew no sin ; that we might 
be made the righteousness of God in him. Rom. iv. 11, And he 
[Abraham] received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteous- 
ness of the faith, which he had yet being uncircumcised : that he 
might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not cir- 
cumcised ; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. 
v. 22 — 25, And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 
Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to 
him ; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on 
him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered 
for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 

u Rom. v. 9, Much more then, being justified by his blood, we 
shall be saved from wrath through him. 

v Rom. v. 17 — 19, They which receive abundance of grace, and 
of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. — 
By the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto 
justification of life. — By the obedience of one shall many be made 
righteous, v. 21, Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal 
life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

w Psalm ciii. 3, Bless the Lord, O my soul, — who forgiveth ail 



224 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

I'm always in a pardon'd state 
Before and after sin ; x but yet, 
That vainly I presume not hence, 
I'm seldom pardon'd to my sense, y 

Sin brings a vengeance on ray head, 
Though from avenging wrath I'm freed, z 
And though my sins all pardon'd be, 
Their pardon's not apply'd to me. a 

thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. 2 Cor. v. 19, God 
was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their 
trespasses unto them. v. 21, See letter s above-cited. Dan. ix. 24, 
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy 
city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to 
make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteous- 
ness. Isa. liv. 10, For the mountains shall depart and the hills be 
removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall 
the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy 
on thee. Heb. viii. 12, For 1 will be merciful to their unrighteous- 
ness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 

x Rom. viii. 1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them 
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the 
Spirit, v. 33 — 35, 37—39, Who shall lay any thing to the charge 
of God's elect? It is God that justifieth : who is he that condemneth? 
It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at 
the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who 
shall separate us from the love of Christ ? shall tribulation, or dis- 
tress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that 
loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor 
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things 
to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able 
to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

y Psalm xxv. 11, For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine ini- 
quity; for it is great. And li. 8, 9, Make me to hear joy and glad- 
ness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy 
face from my sins; and blot out all mine iniquities, v. 12, Restore 
unto me the joy of thy salvation ; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. 

z Psalm xcix. 8, Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God : thou 
wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of 
their inventions. 1 Thess. i. 10, And to wait for his Son from hea- 
ven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us 
from the wrath to come. 

a Psalm xxxv. 3, O Lord, say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. 
And lxxxv. 8, I will hear what God the Lord will speak ; for he 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 225 

Thus though I need no pardon more, 
Yet need new pardons ev'ry hour,* 
In point of application free ; 
Lord, wash anew, and pardon me. 

SECTION XV The mystery of Faith and Sight, of which 

more, part vi. chap. vi. 

Strange contradictions me befall, 

I can't believe unless I see ; a 
Yet never can believe at all, 

Till once I shut the seeing eye. b 

When sight of sweet experience 

Can give my faith no helping hand, c 

The sight of sound intelligence 

Will give it ample ground to stand, d 

will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints ; but let them not 
turn again to folly. Matt. ix. 2, And behold, they brought to him 
a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed ; and Jesus seeing their faith, 
said unto the sick of the palsy, Son of man be of good cheer, thy 
sins be forgiven thee. 

* Matt. vi. 12, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our 
debtors. 1 John i. 7, 8, If we walk in the light, as God is in the 
light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus 
Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say, that we have 
no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

a John vi. 40, And this is the will of him that sent me, that every 
one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlast- 
ing life. 

b John xx. 29, Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast 
seen me, thou hast believed : blessed are they that have not seen, 
and yet have believed. 

c Isa. viii. 17, And I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face 
from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. Chap. 1. 10, Who 
is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his 
servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light ? let him trust 
in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. 

d Eph. i. 15, — 19, Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith 
in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give 
thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers ; that the God 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you 
the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of him ; the 
eyes of your understanding being enlightened ; that ye may know 
what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of 



226 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

I walk by faith, and not by sight, e 

Yet knowledge does my faith resound, f 

Which cannot walk but in the light, g 
Ev'n when experience runs a-ground. h 

By knowledge I discern and spy 

In divine light the object shown ; i 
By faith I take and close apply 

The glorious object as mine own. k 

My faith thus stands on divine light, 

Believing what it clearly sees ; I 
Yet faith is opposite to sight, 

Trusting its ear, and not its eyes, m 

Faith list'ning to a sweet report, 

Still comes by hearing, not by sight ; n 

Yet is not faith of saving sort, 

But when it sees in divine light, o 

his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of 
his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his 
mighty power, &c. 2 Cor. iv. 6, For God who commanded the light 
to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light 
of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. 

e 2 Cor. v. 7, For we walk by faith, not by sight. 
/'John ii. 11, This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of 
Galilee, and manifested forth his glory ; and his disciples believed 
on him. 

g Psalm ix. 10, And they that know thy name will put their trust 
in thee. 

h Psalm xxxvii. 14, Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and 
he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord. 

i 2 Cor. iii. 18, But we all with open face, beholding as in a glass 
the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory 
to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

k John i. 12, But as many as received him, to them gave he power 
to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. 

I Gal. i. 16, But when it pleased God to reveal his Son in me, 
that I might preach him among the Heathen ; Immediately I confer- 
red not with flesh and blood. 

m Eph. i. 13, In Christ ye also trusted after that ye heard the 
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. 

n Rom. x. 17, So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by 
the word of God. 

o Psalm xxxvi. 7, How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God ! 



the believer's riddle. 227 

In fears I spend my vital breath, 

In doubts I waste my passing years ; p 

Yet still the life I live is faith, 

The opposite of doubts and fears, q 

'Tvveen clearing faith and clouding sense, 

I walk in darkness and in light, r 
I'm certain oft, when in suspense, 

While sure by faith and not by sight, s 

therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy 
wings, v. 9, For with thee is the fountain of life ; in thy light shall 
we see light. 

p Psalm lxxvii. 3, 4, I remembered God, and was troubled : I 
complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Thou holdest 
mine eyes waking ; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. John xx. 
25, But Thomas said unto the other disciples, Except I shall see in 
his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of 
the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. Luke 
xxiv. 21, We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed 
Israel. 

q Gal. ii. 20, I am crucified with Christ : nevertheless I live ; yet 
not I, but Christ liveth in me : and the life that I live in the flesh, 
I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave him- 
self for me. Mark v. 36, As soon as Jesus heard the word that was 
spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only 
believe. Matt. viii. 26, And Jesus saith unto his disciples, Why are 
ye so fearful, O ye of little faith? Chap. xiv. 31, And Jesus said 
unto Peter, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 

r Job xxix. 1 — 3, Moreover, Job continued his parable, and said, 
Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved 
me : when his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I 
walked through darkness. Psalm cxii. 4, Unto the upright there 
ariseth light in the darkness. 

s 1 Pet i. 8, Whom having not seen, ye love ; in whom though 
now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, 
and full of glory. Rom. iv. 18 — 21, Abraham against hope, believed 
in hope, that he might become the father of many nations ; according 
to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not 
weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he 
was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's 
womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; 
but was strong in faith, giving glory to God ; and being fully per- 
suaded, that what he had promised, he was able to perform. Psalm 
lxxxix. 36, 39, His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the 
sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as 



228 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

SECTION XVI — The mystery of Faith and Works, and 
rewards of Grace and Debt. 

I. OF FAITH AND WORKS. 

He that in word offendeth not, 

Is call'd a perfect man I wot ; a 

Yet he whose thoughts and deeds are bad, 

The law perfection never had. b 

I am design'd a perfect soul, 

Ev'n though I never kept the whole 

Nor any precept ; c for 'tis known 

He breaks them all, that breaks but one. d 

By faith I do perfection claim, e 

By works I never grasp the name :/ 

a faithful witness in heaven. Selah. But thou hast cast off and 
abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed. Thou hast made 
void the covenant of thy servant ; thou hast profaned his crown, by 
casting it to the ground. 

a James iii. 2, If any man offend not in word, the same is a per- 
fect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 

b James ii. 10, For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet 
offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 

c Rom. iv. 5, 6, To him that worketh not, but believeth on him 
that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom 
God imputeth righteousness without works. Job i. 1, There was a 
man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was per- 
fect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 
Psalm Ixxi. 16, I will go in the strength of the Lord God ; I will 
make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. Eccl. vii. 
20, For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sin- 
neth not. 

d James ii. 10, See letter b. 

e Phil. iii. 9, I count all things but dung, that I may win Christ, 
and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is 
of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righte- 
ousness which is of God by faith. 

fGdii. ii. 16, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works 
of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ ; even we have believed 
in Jesus Christ ; that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, 
and not by the works of the law : for by the works of the law shall 
no flesh be justified. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 229 

Yet without works my faith is nought, g 
And thereby no perfection brought. 

Works without faith will never speed, h 
Faith without works is wholly dead : i 
Yet I am justify'd by faith, 
Which no law- works adjutant hath, k 

Yea, gospel works no help can lend, / 
Though still they do my faith attend : m 

g James ii. 14, What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man 
say he hath faith, and have not works ? can faith save him ? 

h Heb. xi. 6, Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he 
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder 
of them that diligently seek him. Rom. xxiv. 23, Whatsoever is 
not of faith, is sin. 

i James ii. 17, Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead being 
alone, v. 26, For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith 
without works is dead also. 

k Rom. iii. 21, 22, But now the righteousness of God without the 
law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets ; 
even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto 
all, and upon all them that believe ; for there is no difference. Chap, 
iv. 4 — 6, Now to him that worketh, is the reward not reckoned of 
grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on 
on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteous- 
ness. Even as David also described the blessedness of the man unto 
whom God imputeth righteousness without works. 

I Phil. iii. 4 — 9, If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof 
he might trust in the flesh, I more : touching the righteousness 
which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, 
those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all 
things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus 
my Lord : for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do 
count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not 
having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which 
is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by 
faith. Isa. lxiv. 6, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our 
righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Hos. xiii. 9, O Israel, thou hast 
destroyed thyself, but in me is thine help. Isa. xlv. 24, 25, Surely, 
shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even 
to him shall men come, and all that are incensed against him shall 
be ashamed. In the Lord shall the seed of Israel be justified, and 
shall glory. 

m Tit. iii. 8, This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that 
thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might 



230 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART ill. 

Yet faith by works is perfect made, 
And by their presence justify'd. n 

But works with faith could never vie, 
And only faith can justify, o 
Yet still my justifying faith 
No justifying value hath./? 

Lo, justifying grace from heav'n 
Is foreign ware, and freely giv'n : q 

be careful to maintain good works : these things are good and profi- 
table unto men. James ii. 18, Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, 
and I have works ; shew me thy faith without thy works and I will 
shew thee my faith by my works. 

n James ii. 21, 22, Was not Abraham our father justified by 
works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar ? Seest 
thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made 
perfect, v. 24, Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, 
and not by faith only. 

o Rom. iv. 16, Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace ; 
to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed. Tit. iii. 4, — 7, 
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man 
appeared, not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but 
according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, 
and renewing of the Holy Ghost : which he shed on us abundantly, 
through Jesus Christ our Saviour ; that being justified by his grace 
we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Acts 
x. 43, To him gave all the prophets witness, that through his name, 
whosoever believeth on him, shall receive remission of sins. 

p Gal. iii. 21, 22, Is the law then against the promises of God ? 
God forbid : for if there had been a law given which could have 
given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But 
the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith 
of Jesus Christ may be given to them that believe. Luke xxii. 31, 
32, And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired 
to have you, that he may sift you as wheat ; but I have prayed for 
thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen 
thy brethren. 2 Cor. iii. 5, Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, 
to think any thing of ourselves ; but our sufficiency is of God. 
Chap. xii. 5, Of such an one will I glory; yet of myself I will not 
glory, but in mine infirmities. 

q Rom. v. 16, 17, The free gift is of many offences unto justifica- 
tion. — They which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of 
righteousness, shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ. Chap. iii. 24, 
Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in 
Jesus Christ. 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 231 

And saving faith is well content 
To be a mere recipient, r 

Faith's active in my sanctity : s 
But here its act it will deny, t 
And frankly own it never went 
Beyond a passive instrument, u 

I labour much, like holy Paul ; 
And yet not I but grace does all ; v 
I try to spread my little sails, 
And wait for pow'rful moving gales, w 

When pow'rs convey'd I work; but see, 
'Tis still his pow'r that works in me. 
I am an agent at his call, 
Yet nothing am, for grace is all ; x 

r Rom. v. 11, And not only so, but we also joy in God, through 
our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 
v. 17, See letter q. 

s Gal. v. 6, For in Jesus Christ, neither circumcision availeth any 
thing, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love. Acts 
xv. 9, God put no difference between us and them, purifying their 
hearts by faith. Chap. xxvi. 18, To open their eyes, and to turn 
them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, 
that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them 
which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 

t Rom. iv. 16, Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace. 
Chap. xi. 6, And if by grace, then it is no more of works ; otherwise 
grace is no more grace. 

u Eph. ii. 8, 9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that 
not of yourselves : it is the gift of God : not of works, lest any man 
should boast. 1 Cor. iv. 7, For who maketh thee to differ from 
another ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive ? now if 
thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not re- 
ceived it? Heb. xi. 11, Through faith also Sarah herself received 
strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was 
past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised, v. 17, 
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac : and he that 
had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son. v. 19, 
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead : 
from whence also he received him in a figure, v. 35, Women re- 
ceived their dead raised to life again ; and others were tortured, not 
accepting deliverance ; that they might obtain a better resurrection. 



282 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 



II. OF REWARDS OF GRACE AND DEBT. 

In all my works I still regard 
The recompence of full reward ; y 
Yet such my working is withal, 
I look for no reward at all. z 

God's my reward exceeding great, 
No lesser heav'n than this I wait ; a 

v 1 Cor. xv. 10, But by the grace of God I am what I am: and 
his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain ; but I la- 
boured more abundantly than they all ; yet not I, but the grace of 
God which was with me. 

w Psalm lxxi. 16, I will go in the strength of the Lord God : I 
will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. Song 
iv. 16, Awake, O north wind, and come thou south, blow upon my 
garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. 

x Phil ii. 12, 13, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always 
obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my ab- 
sence : work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For 
it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good 
pleasure. Gal. ii. 20, I am crucified with Christ : Nevertheless I 
live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me ; and the life which I now 
live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved 
me, and gave himself for me. 2 Cor. xii. 9, And the Lord said 
unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee ; for my strength is made 
perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in 
my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

y Heb. xi. 24 — 26, By faith Moses when he was come to years, 
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter ; choosing rather 
to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures 
of sin for a season ; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches 
than the treasures of Egypt ; for he had respect unto the recompense 
of the reward. 

z 1 Tim. i. 9, God hath saved us, and called us with an holy call- 
ing, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose 
and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world 
began. Titus iii. 5, Not by works of righteousness, which we have 
done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of re- 
generation, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. 

a Gen. xv. 1 , After these things the word of the Lord came unto 
Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram ; I am thy shield, and 
thy exceeding great reward. Psalm lxxiii. 25, 26, Whom have I 
in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire be- 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 233 

But where's the earning work so broad, 
To set me up an heir of God ? b 

Rewards of debt, rewards of grace, 
Are opposites in ev'ry case ; c 
Yet sure I am they'll both agree 
Most jointly in rewarding me. d 

Though hell's my just reward for sin e 
Heav'n as my just reward I'll win./" 



side thee. My flesh and my heart faileth ; but God is the strength 
of my heart, and my portion for ever. 

b Ezek. xxxvi. 32, Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord 
God, be it known unto you ; be ashamed and confounded for your 
own ways, O house of Israel. Rom. viii. 16, 17, The Spirit itself 
beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. 
And if children, then heirs ; heirs of God, and joint heirs with 
Christ. 

c Rom. iv. 4, Now to him that worketh, is the reward not 
reckoned of grace, but of debt. 

d Psalm Iviii. 11, Verily there is a reward for the righteous; 
verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. Isa. lxii. 11, Behold 
the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the 
daughter of Zion, Behold thy salvation cometh ; behold, his reward 
is with him, and his work before him. 

e Rom. vi. 21, What fruit had ye then in those things, whereof 
ye are now ashamed ? for the end of those things is death, v. 23, 
The wages of sin is death. Eph. v. 6, Let no man deceive you 
with vain words ; for because of these things cometh the wrath of 
God upon the children of disobedience. Gal. iii. 10, For as many 
as are of the works of the law, are under the curse ; for it is written, 
Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are 
written in the book of the law to do them. 

yGal. iii. 13, 14, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the 
law, being made a curse for us ; for it is written, Cursed is every 
one that hangeth on a tree ; that the blessing of Abraham might 
come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ ; that we might receive 
the pfomise of the Spirit through faith. Eph. i. 13, 14, In Christ 
also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of 
promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemp- 
tion of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Rom. 
v. 21, Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, by 
Jesus Christ our Lord. And vi. 23, The gift of God is eternal 
life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Q 



234 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART III. 

Both these my just rewards I know. 
Yet truly neither of them so.* 

Hell can't in justice be my lot, 
Since justice satisfaction got ; g 
Nor heav'n injustice be my share, 
Since mercy only brings me there, k 

Yet heav'n is mine by solemn oath, 
In justice and in mercy both : i 
And God in Christ is all my trust, 
Because he's merciful and just, k 



* Through these opposite voices of law and gospel. 

g Rom. iii. 25, 26, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation* 
through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remis- 
sion of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God ; to de- 
clare, I say, at this time his righteousness, that he might be just, 
and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 

h Rom. ix. 15, 16, God saith to Moses, I will have mercy on 
whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will 
have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him 
that runneth ; but of God that sheweth mercy. Titus iii. 4 — 7, But 
after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man 
appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but 
according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, 
and renewing of the Holy Ghost ; which he shed on us abundantly 
through Jesus Christ our Saviour : that being justified by his grace, 
we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

i Psalm lxxxix. 35, 36, Once have I sworn by my holiness, that 
I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his 
throne as the sun before me. Heb. vi. 17, 18, Wherein God willing 
more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability 
of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath ; that by two immutable things, 
in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong 
consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set 
before us. Psalm lxxxix. 14, Justice and judgment are the habita- 
tion of thy throne ; mercy and truth shall go before thy face. V. 16, 
In thy name shall they rejoice all the day : and in thy righteousness 
shall they be exalted, v. 24, But my faithfulness and my mercy 
shall be with him [David my servant] ; and in my name shall hi9 
horn be exalted, v. 28, My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, 
and my covenant shall stand fast with him. 

k Heb. ii. 17, Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made 



THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 235 



CONCLUSION. 



Here is the riddle, where's the man 

Of judgment to expound? 
For masters fam'd that cannot scan, 

In Israel may be found, a 

We justly those in wisdom's list 

Establish'd saints may call, 
Whose bitter sweet experience blest 

Can clearly grasp it all. h 

Some babes in grace may mint* and mar, 
Yet aiming right succeed : c 



like unto his brethren ; that he might be a merciful and faithful high 
priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the 
sins of the people. 1 John i. 6, 8, 9, If we walk in the light, as 
God is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the 
blood of Jesus Christ the Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say 
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

a John iii. 10, Jesus answered and said unto Nicodemus, Art thou 
a master of Israel, and knowest not these things ? 

b Matt. xi. 25, At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank 
thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid 
these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto 
babes. And xiii. 11, Jesus answered and said unto his disciples, Be- 
cause it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of 
heaven, but to them it is not given. 

c 1 Cor. iii. 1, 2, And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as 
unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I 
have fed you with milk, and not with meat ; for hitherto ye were 
not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. Heb. v. 12 — 14, 
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that 
one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of 
God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong 
meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of 
righteousness ; for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them 
that are of full age, even those who by reason of use, have their 

* Essay. 



Q 



g 



236 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART IIJi 

But strangers they in Isra'l are, 
Who not at all can read, d 



senses exercised to discern both good and evil. And vi. 1, Therefore 
leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto 
perfection ; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead 
works, and of faith towards God, &c. 1 John ii. 12, 13, I write unto 
you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's 
sake. — I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the 
Father. 

d 2 Cor. 3, 4, But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are 
lost ; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them 
that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who 
is the image of God, should shine unto them. 



GOSPEL SONNETS. 

PART IV. 

THE BELIEVER'S LODGING AND INN 
WHILE ON EARTH; 

OR, 

A POEM AND PARAPHRASE UPON PSALM LXXXIV. 

Verse 1. How amiable are thy Tabernacles, O Lord of 
Hostsl 

Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 

Sole Monarch of the universal host, 

Whom the attendant armies still revere, 

Which in bright robes surround the higher sphere; 

Whose sov'reign empire sways the hellish band 

Of ranked legions in the infernal land ; 

Who hold'st the earth at thy unrivaJTd beck, 

And stayest proud forces with a humbling check; 

Ev'n thou whose name commands an awful dread, 

Yet deigns to dwell with man in every deed; 

O what refreshment fills the dwelling place 

Of thine exuberant unbounded grace! 

Which with sweet power does joy and praise extort, 

In Zion's tents, thine ever lov'd resort : 

Where glad'ning streams of mercy from above, 

Make souls brim-full of warm seraphic love. 

Of sweetest odours all thy garment smells ; 

Tiiy dismal absence proves a thousand hells, 

But heav'ns of joy are where thine honour dwells. 

Verse 2. My soul longeth, yea even fainteth,for the courts 
of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living 
God. 

Therefore on thee I centre my desire, 
Which vehemently bursts out in ardent fire. 



A 



238 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART IV. 

Deprived, ah ! I languish in my plaint, 
My bones are feeble, and my spirits taint ; 
My longing soul pants to behold again 
Thy temple tilFd with thy majestic train ; 
Those palaces with heavenly odour strew'd, 
And regal courts, where Zion's King is view'd ; 
To see the beauty of the highest One, 
Upon his holy mount his lofty throne : 
Whence virtue running from the living Head, 
Restores the dying and revives the dead : 
For him my heart with cries repeated sounds, 
To which my flesh with echo loud rebounds : 
For him, for him, who life in death can give, ) 
For him, for him, whose sole prerogative > 

Is from and to eternity to live. ) 

Verse 3. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the 
swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young, 
even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God, 

Alas! how from thy lovely dwellings I, 
Long banished, do the happy birds envy ; 
Which, choosing thy high altars for their nest, 
On rafters of thy tabernacles rest ! 
Here dwells the sparrow of a chirping tongue, 
And here the swallow lays her tender young; 
Faint sacrilege, they seize the sacred spot, 
And seem to glory o'er my absent lot. 
Yet sure I have more special right to thee 
Than all the brutal hosts of earth and sea ; 
That Sovereign at whose government they bow, 
Is wholly mine by his eternal vow ; 
My King to rule my heart and quell my foes, 1 
My God t' extract my well from present woes, > 
And crown with endless glory at the close. ) 

Verse 4. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house ; they will 
be still praising thee, 

O happy they that haunt thy house below, 
And to thy royal sanctuary flow : 



1 



THE BELIEVER'S LODGING. 239 

Not for itself, but for the glorious One, 
Who there inhabits his erected throne ! 
Others pass by, but here their dwelling is! 
O happy people crown'd with days of bliss ! 
Bless'd with the splendid lustre of his face, 
Bless'd with the high melodious sound of grace, 
That wakens souls into a sweet amaze, 
And turns their spirits to a harp of praise ; 
Which loudly makes the lower temple ring 
With hallelujahs to the mighty King : 
And thus they antedate the nobler song 
Of that celestial and triumphant throng, 
Who warble notes of praise eternity along, 

Verse 5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee. 

What weight of bliss their happy shoulders load, 
Whose strength lies treasur'd in a potent God ? 
Self drained souls, yet flowing to the brim, 
Because void in themselves, but full in him. 
Adam the first discuss'd their stock of strength, 
The second well retriv'd the sum at length ; 
Who keeps himself a surer hand indeed, 
To give not as they list, but as they need. 
When raging furies threaten sudden harms, 
He then extends his everlasting arms; 
When Satan drives his pointed fiery darts, 
He gives them courage and undaunted hearts, 
To quell his deadly force with divine skill, 
And adds new strength to do their Sovereign's will: 
When sore harass'd by some outrageous lust, ) 
He levelling its power unto the dust, > 

Makes saints to own him worthy of their trust. ) 

Verse 6. In whose hearts are the ways of them, who passing 
through the valley of JBaca made it a well : the rain also 
jilleth the pools. 

Such heav'n-born souls are not to earth confin'd. 
Truth's high-way fills his elevated mind ; 
They, bound for Zion, press with forward aim. 
As Israel s males to old Jerusalem, 



a pleasant fill, ) 

irten'd up the hill, > 
rhich down distil. ) 



240 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART IV. 

Their holy path lies through a parched land, 
Through oppositions numerous and grand. 
Traversing scorching deserts, rugged rocks, 
And Baca's vvither'd vale, like thirsty flocks : 
Yet with unshaken vigour homeward go, 
Not mov'd by all opposing harms below. 
They digging wells on this Gilboa top, 
The vale of Achor yields a door of hope : 
For Heav'n in plenty does their labour crown, 
By making silver showers to trickle down ; 
Till empty pools imbibe a pleasant fill, 
And weary souls are heart 
By massy drops of joy w\ 

Verse 7. They go from strength to strength, every one of 
them in Zion appeareth before God. 

Thus they, refreshed by superior aid 
Are not defatigated nor dismayed ; 
Because they are, O truth of awful dread I 
As potent as jehovah in their Head 
Hence they shall travel with triumphant minds, 
In spite of rugged paths and boisterous winds. 
The roughest ways their vigour ne'er abates, 
Each new assault their strength redintegrates. 
When they through mortal blows seem to give o'er, 
Their strength by intermitting gathers more. 
And thus they, with unweary'd zeal endu'd, 
Still as they journey have their strength renew'd ; 
So glorious is the race, that once begun 
Each one contends his fellow to outrun ; 
Till all uniting in a glorious band, 
Before the Lamb's high throne adoring stand, 
And harp his lofty praise in Zion -land. 

Verse 8. O Lord God of Hosts, hear my prayer : give ear^ 
O God of Jacob. 

Great God of num'rous hosts, who reigns alone, 
The sole possessor of th' imperial throne ; 
Since mental tastes of thy delicious grace, 
So sweetly relish in thy holy place i 



*i 



thee. ) 



THE BELIEVER'S LODGING. 241 

This is the subject of ray tabled pray'r, 
To have the vision of thy glory there, 
O let my cry pierce the ethereal frame, 
And mercy's echo follow down the same. 
Omniscient Being, favour my desire, 
Hide not thy goodness in paternal ire : 
Why, thou hast giv'n in an eternal band, 
To Jacob and his seed thy royal hand ; 
And promis'd by thy sacred Deity, 
His King and covenanted God to be : 
Therefore my hopes are center'd all in 

Verse 9. Behold, O God, our shield, and look upon the face 
of thine anointed. 

Omnipotent, whose armour none can wield, 
Zion's great buckler and defensive shield ; 
Thy pure untainted eyes cannot behold 
Deformed mortals in their sinful mold : 
Unless their names be graved on the breast 
Of Zion's holy consecrated Priest. 
When they his white and glorious garment wear, 
Then sin and guilt both wholly disappear : 
Because o'erwhelmed in the crimson flood, 
And ocean of a dying Surety's blood : 
They also, vested with his radiant grace, 
Reflect the lustre of his holy face. 
They're not themselves now, but divinely trim, 
For wholly what they are, they are in him : 
And hence Jehovah's all-discerning eye, 
Cannot in them espy deformity. 
Then look on him, Lord ; and in him on me 



! 



Verse 10. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand: 
I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than 
to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 

May I possess, as thy domestic child, 
The house that by Jehovah's name is styl'd : 
For royal glories deck those courts of thine, 
Which with majestic rays so brightly shine, 



242 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART IV. 

That should my mind present an earth of gold, 

As full of worldly joys as earth can hold : 

Sweet grace so fills thy house, I'd grudge to spare 

One moment here, for thousand ages there. 

No earthly object shall my love confine, 

That being which possesses all, is mine, 

My spirit therefore rather would embrace 

The meanest office in his holy place, 

And by the threshold of his house within, 

Than sit in splendour on a throne of sin, 

In Jesus' courts I'd choose the lowest place, 

At his saints' feet, so I might see his face. 

Yea, though my lamp of outward peace should burn ) 

Most brightly, yet I would incessant mourn, > 

While in a wicked Mesech I sojourn. ) 

Verse 1 1 . For the Lord God is a sun and shield : the Lord 
will give grace and glory ; no good thing will he withhold 
from them that walk uprightly. 

For God the Lord, whose courts I love to haunt, 
Is ev'ry thing that empty souls can want ; 
A sun for light, a shield for strength ; yea, more, 
On earth he gives his grace, in heav'n his glore, 
This radiant sun, of life and light the source ; 
Scatters the shades by circumambient course ; 
Yea, guides bemisted souls with heartsome beams, 
And gloriously irradiating gleams. 
This massy shield is polish'd bright with pow'r, 
For helping w r eaklings in a per'lous hour. 
Here's all that weary travellers would have, 
A sun to cherish, and a shield to save. 
Grace also here is giv'n t' adorn the soul, 
And yield to glory in the heav'nly pole. 
All divine treasure to the saint is due ; 
Nothing's deny'd, if truth itself be true. 
The treasure is so vast, it can't be told ; 
Nothing that God can give, will God withhold. 
To whom he doth his saving grace impart, 
To them he gives himself, his hand, his heart; 



THE BELIEVER'S LODGING. „ 243 

Uprightness too of heart and life does fall 

Unto their share, who having him, have all. 

In them the grace he gives, he still regards ; 

Gives holiness, and then his gift rewards. 

For to his own upright and divine hrood 1 

He's bound to grant ev'n all that's great and good, ^ 

By's own sure word, firm oath, and sacred blood. | 

Verse 12. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth 
in thee, 

O then, Jehovah, God of armies strong, 
To whom the pow'rs of earth and heav'n belong ; 
How vastly blessed is the fixed man, 
Who by a firm fiducial boldness can, 
Through grace and strength dispensed from above. 
So sweetly scan the height of divine love, 
As to derive his comfort wholly thence, 
And on this rock to found his confidence ; 
Whose faith has rear'd up for a firm abode 
A stable building on a living God ; 
Who, spoil'd of human props both great and small, 
Does choose a triune Deity for all. 
What scrolls of bliss are in this All inroll'd, 
Is too sublime for seraphs to unfold. 
Sist, human wisdom, in a deep amaze ! j 

Let rapid floods of life his glory raise, > 

Till time be drown'd in his eternal praise. ) 

A Fourfold Exercise for the Believer in his Lodging on 
earth. I. — The Holy Law, or, the Ten Commandments, 
Exod. xx. 3—17. 

1. No God but me thou shalt adore. 

2. No image frame to bow before. 

3. My holy name take not in vain. 

4. My sacred sabbath don't profane. 

5. To parents render due respect. 

6. All murder shun and malice check. 

7. From filth and wdioredom base abstain ; 

8. From theft and all unlawful gain. 

9. False witness flee, and slandering spite ; 
10. Nor covet what's thy neighbour's right. 



244 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART IV. 

II. — The Unholy Heart, the direct opposite of God's 
holy and righteous Law, Rom. vii. 14 ; or, the Knowledge 
of Sin, by the Law, Rom. iii. 20. 

1. My heart's to many gods a slave ; 

2. Of imagery an hideous cave ; 

3 An hoard of God-dishon'ring crimes. 

4. A waster base of holy times ; 

5. A throne of pride and self-conceit ; 

6. A slaughter-house of wrath and hate; 

7. A cage of birds and thoughts unclean ; 

8. A den of thieves and frauds unseen ; 

9. A heap of calumnies unspent ; 
10. A gulph of greed and discontent. 

Ill The Glorious Gospel; or, Christ the end of the 

Law for Righteousness, Rom. x, 4 ; and the absolute need 
of this remedy inferred from the premises. 

Hence I conclude, and clearly see, 

There's by the law no life for me ; 

Which damns each soul to endless thrall 

Whose heart and life fulfil not all. 

What shall I do, unless for bail 

I from the law to grace appeal ? 

She reigns through Jesus' righteousness, 

Which, giving justice full redress, 

On grace's door this motto grav'd, 

' Let sin be damn'd and sinners sav'd.' 

O wisdom's deep mysterious way ! ) 

Lo, at this door I'll waiting stay, > 

Till sin and hell both pass away. ) 

But in this bliss to shew my part, ) 

Grant, through thy law grav'd in my heart > 

My life may shew thy graving art. ) 

IV. — The Prayer of Faith ; which may be conceived in the 
following words of a certain author : 

Sim tuus in vita, tua sint mea funera Christe ; 
Da, precor, imperii sceptra tenere tui. 



THE BELIEVER'S LODGING. 245 

Cur etenim moriens, tot vulnera sseva tulisti, 
Si non sum regni portio parva tui ? 

Cur rigido latuit tua vita inclusa sepulchro, 
Si non est inea mors morte fugata tua ? 

Ergo mihi certam praestes, O Christe, salutem ; 
Meque tuo lotum sanguine, Christe, juva. 

Which may be thus Englished : 

Jesus I'm thine in life and death ; 

O let me, conq'ring, hold thy throne ! 
Why shar'd the cross thy vital breath, 

If not to make me share thy crown ? 

Why laid in jail of cruel grave, 

If not thy death from death me free? 

Then, Lord, insure the bliss I crave, 
SeaPd with thy blood, and succour me. 



GOSPEL SONNETS. 



PART V. 



THE BELIEYER'S SOLILOQUY, 

ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF DESERTION, DISTRESS, 
AFFLICTION, &c. 



SECTION I — The deserted Believer longing for perfect 
freedom from sin. 

Ah mournful case ! what can afford 
Contentment when an absent Lord 
Will now his kindness never prove 
By smiles of grace nor lines of love ! 

What heart can joy? what soul can sing, 
While winter overruns the spring ! 
I die, yet can't my death condole ; 
Lord, save a dying, drooping soul. 

In pain, yet unconcern'd I live, 
And languish when I should believe. 
Lord, if thou cease to come and stay, 
My soul in sin will pine away. 

In sin, whose ill no tongue can tell, 
To live is death, to die is hell ; 
O save, if not from thrall's arrest, 
Yet save me, Lord, from sin at least. 

This for his merits' sake I seek, 
Whose blood and wounds do mercy speak 5 
Who left the rank of glorious choirs, 
And heavenly flowers for earthly briers. 



THE BELIEVER^ SOLILOQUY. 247 

Our Sampson took a holy nap 
Upon our feeble nature's lap ; 
He, wand'ring in a pilgrim's weed, 
Did taste our griefs to help our need* 

Earth's fury did upon him light : 
How black was Herod's cruel spite, 
Who, to be sure of murdering one, 
Lest he be spar'd did pity none! 

Hell hunts the babe a few days old, 
That came to rifle Satan's fold ; 
All hands pursued him even to death, 
That came to save from sin and wrath. 

O mercy, ignorant of bounds, 
Which all created thought confounds : 
He ran outright a saving race 
For them that unto death him chase. 

O sin, how heavy is thy weight 
That press'd the glorious God of might 
Till, prostrate on the freezing ground, 
He sweat his clotted blood around ! 

His hand the pond'rous globe does prop, 
This weight ne'er made him sweat a drop 5 
But when sin's load upon him lies, 
He falls, and sweats, and groans, and dies. 

Alas ! if God sink under sin, 
How shall the man that dies therein ! 
How deeply down, when to the load 
He adds the slighted blood of God ? 

Lord, let thy fall my rise obtain, 
Thy grievous shame my glory gain ; 
Thy cross my lasting crown procure, 
Thy death my endless life insure. 

O send me down a draught of love, 
Or take me hence to drink above ; 
Here Marah's water fills my cup, 
But there all griefs are swallowed up, 



248 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART V» 

Love here is scarce a faint desire, 
But there the spark's a flaming fire. 
Joys here are drops that passing flee, 
But there an overflowing sea. 

My faith, that sees so darkly here, 
Will there resign to vision clear ; 
My hope, that's here a weary groan, 
Will to fruition yield the throne. 

Here fetters hamper freedom's wing, 
But there the captive is a king; 
And grace is like a buried seed, 
But sinners there are saints indeed. 

Thy portion here's a crumb at best, 
But there, the Lamb's eternal feast ; 
My praise is now a smother'd fire, 
But there I'll sing and never tire. 

Now dusky shadows cloud my day, 
But then the shades will flee away ; 
My Lord will break the dimming glass, 
And shew his glory face to face. 

My num'rous foes now beat me down, 
But then I'll wear the the victor's crown ; 
Yet all the revenues I'll bring 
To Zion's everlasting King. 

SECTION II. — The deserted Believer's prayer under com- 
plaints of unbelief darkness, deadness, and hardness. 

What means this wicked, wand'ring heart? 

This trembling ague of my soul? 
Would Jesus but a look impart, 

One look from him would make me whole. 

But will he turn to me his face, 

From whom he justly did withdraw'? 

To me that slighted all that grace 
I in my past experience saw ? 

Lord, for thy promise' sake, return, 
Apply thy pard'ning, cleansing blood ; 



THE BELIEVER'S SOLILOQUY. 249 

Look down with pity on a worm, 
With cov'nant-mercy do me good. 

When thy free Sp'rit the word applies, 

And kindly tells me thou art mine, 
My faithless sinking heart replies, 

Ah, Lord ! I wish I could be thine. 

My faith's so 'nighted in my doubts, 

I cast the offered good away ; 
And lose, by raising vain disputes, 

The wonted blessings of the day. 

Was e'er one press'd with such a load, 
Or pierc'd with such an unseen dart 

To find at once an absent God, 
And yet, alas ! a careless heart ? 

Such grief as mine, a griefless grief, 

Did ever any mortal share ? 
An hopless hope, a lifeless life, 

Or such unwonted careless care? 

'Tis sad, Lord ! when for night's solace, 
Nor moon, nor starry gleams appear : 

Yet worse, when in this dismal case 
My heart is harden'd from thy fear. 

'Twas not because no show'rs did flow 

Of heavenly manna at my door ; 
But by my folly I'm into 

A worse condition than before. 

Come, Lord, with greater pow'r ; for why, 

Mine sure is not a common ease: 
Thou offer'st to unvail ; yet I 

Do scarce incline to see thy face. 

Such languid faint desires I feel 

Within this wicked, stupid heart : 
I should, I would, but that I will 

I hardly dare with truth assert. 

O to be free of that vile wrack, 

That basely keeps me from my God ! 

R 



250 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART ¥'. 

I flee from thee, Lord ; bring me back 
By tender love, or by the rod. 

In paths of righteousness direct, 

New proofs of thy remission give ; 
Then of thy name I'll mention make 

With grateful praises while I live. 

On banks of mercy's boundless deep, 
With swifter ease I'll soar and sing, 

Than kings of feather'd hosts, that sweep 
The oozy shore with easy wing. 

But if thy mind omniscient know 

I'm for this absent bliss unfit, 
Give grace to hate my sins, and to 

Their righteous punishment submit. 

But let me ne'er thy Spirit lack, 

That by his aid my prayers may come 

Before him, who can wisely make 
Ev'n distance lead his people home. 

Deep wisdom can my soul prepare 

By present woes for absent bliss. 
By acid griefs that now I share, 

He can convey the joys I miss. 

Who all from nothing's womb disclos'd, 
Can make th' amazing proudest cease ; 

With him our order is confns'd, 

By him confusion brings forth peace. 

Then, Lord, ne'er let me basely spurn 
Against thy search! ess unknown ways ; 

But magnify thy work and turn 

My groans and murmurs into praise 

Let me submissive while I live, 

Thy awful justice own with fear, 
Yet pensive let me never grieve 

Thy tender mercy by despair. 



THE BELIEVER'S SOLILOQUY. 251 

Since though by sin I foully swerv'd, 

And lewdly from thy glory fell, 
I'm chasten'd here and not reserv'd 

To feel the weight of sin and hell. 

Thy high right hand's once joyful days 

In my distress I'll call to mind ; 
And own till all thy darkest ways 

Will clearly prove thee good and kind. 

SECTION III The Believer wading through depths of 

desertion and corruption. 

Lord, when thy face thou hid'st, 

And leave'st me long to plore, 
I faithless doubt of all thou didst 

And wrought'st for me before. 
No marks of love I find, 

No grains of grace, but wracks ; 
No track of heav'n is left behind, 

No groans, no smoking flax. 

But say, if all the gusts 

And grains of love be spent, 
Say, Farewell Christ, and welcome lusts: 

Stop, stop! 1 melt, I faint. 
Lord, yet thou hast my heart, 

This bargain black I hate ; 
I dare not, cannot, will not part 

With thee at such a rate. 

Once, like a father good, 

Thou didst with grace perfume 
Wast thou a father to conclude 

With dreadful judge's doom? 

Confirm thy former deed, 

Reform what is defil'd ; 
I was, I am, I still abide 

Thy choice, thy charge, thy child. 
Love- seals thou didst impart, 

Lock'd up in mind I have ; 
R 2 



252 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART V. 

Hell cannot rase out of my heart 
What Heav'n did there engrave. 

Thou once didst make me whole 

By thy Almighty hand : 
Thou mad'st me vow and gift my soul ; 

Both vow and gift shall stand. 

But, since my folly gross, 

My joyful cup did spill, 
Make me the captive of thy cross, 

Submissive to thy will. 

Self in myself I hate, 

That's matter of my groan ; 
Nor can I rid me from the mate 

That causes me to moan. 

frail, inconstant flesh ! 
Soon trapt in ev'ry gin ; 

Soon turn'd, o'erturn'd, and so afresh 
Plung'd in the gulph of sin. 

Shall I be slave to sin, 

My Lord's most bloody foe. 

1 feel its pow'rful sway within, 

How long shall it be so ? 

How long, Lord, shall I stay ? 

How long in Mesech here ? 
Dishon'ring thee from day to day, 

Whose name's to me so dear ? 

While sin, Lord, breeds my grief, 

And makes me sadly pine; 
With blinks of grace, O grant relief, 

Till beams of glory shine. 

SECTION IV — Complaint of sin, sorrow, and want of love, 

If black doom by desert should go, 
Then, Lord, my due desert is death ; 

Which robs from soul's immortal joy, 
And from their body's mortal breath* 



THE BELIEVER'S SOLILOQUY. 253 

But in so great a Saviour, 

Can e'er so base a worm's annoy 
Add any glory to thy pow'r, 

Or any gladness to thy joy ? 

Thou justly may'st me doom to death. 

And everlasting flames of fire ; 
But on a wretch to pour thy wrath 

Can never sure be worth thine ire. 

Since Jesus the atonement was, 

Let tender mercy me release ; 
Let him be umpire of my cause, 

And pass the gladsome doom of peace. 

Let grace forgive, and love forget 

My base, my vile apostacy ; 
And temper thy deserved hate 

With love and mercy toward me. 

The ruffling- winds and raging blasts 

Hold me in constant cruel chance ; 
They break my anchors, sails, and masts, 

Allowing no reposing place. 

The boist'rous seas with swelling floods, 

On every side against me fight. 
Heaven overcast with stormy clouds, 

Dims all the planets 5 guiding light. 

The hellish furies lie in wait, 

To win my soul into their pow'r ; 
To make me bite at every bait, 

And thus my killing bane devour. 

I lie encbain'd in sin and thrall, 

Next border unto black despair ; 
Till grace restore, and of my fall 

The doleful ruins all repair. 

My hov'ring thoughts would flee to glore, 

And nestle safe above the sky ; 
Fain would my trembling ship ashore 

At that sure anchor quiet lie. 



254 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART V. 

But mounting thoughts are haled down 

With heavy poise of corrupt load ; 
And blust'ring storms deny with frown 

An harbour of secure abode. 

To drown the wight that wakes the blast* 

Thy sin-subduing grace afford ; 
The storm might cease, could I but cast 

This troublous Jonah overboard. 

Base flesh, with fleshly pleasures gain'd, 
Sweet grace's kindly suit declines : 

When Mercy courts me for its friend, 
Anon my sordid flesh repines. 

Soar up, my soul, to Tabor hill, 

Cast off this loathsome pressing load ; 

Long is the date of thine exile, 

While absent from the Lord thy God, 

Dote not on earthly weeds and toys, 
Which do not, cannot suit thy taste, 

The flow'rs of everlasting joys 
Grow up apace for thy repast. 

Sith that the glorious God above 

In Jesus bears a love to thee ; 
How base, how brutish is thy love 

Of any being less than he ? 

Who for thy love did choose thy grief, 

Content in love to live and die : 
Who lov'd thy love more than his life, 

And with his life thy love did buy. 

Since then the God of richest love 

With thy poor love enamour'd is ; 
How high a crime will thee reprove 

If not enamour'd deep with his ? 
Since on the verdant field of grace 

His love does thine so hot pursue ; 
Let love meet love with chaste embrace, 

Thy mite a thousand-fold is due. 



THE BELIEVER'S SOLILOQUY. 255 

Rise, love, thou early heav'n and sing, 

Young little dawn of endless day.-: 
I'll on thy mounting fiery wing 

In joyful raptures melt away. 

SECTION V The deserted SouV s prayer for the Lovas 

gracious and sin-subduing presence. 

Kind Jesus, come in love to me, 

And make no longer stay ; 
Or else receive my soul to thee ? 

That breathes to be away. 

A Lazar at thy gate I lie, 

As well it me becomes, 
For children's bread asham'd to cry 

O grant a dog the crumbs ! 

My wounds and rags my need proclaim, 

They needful help insure : 
My wounds bear witness that I'm lame, 

My rags that I am poor. 
Thou many at thy door dost feed 

With mercy when distrest ; 
O wilt thou not shew an alms-deed 

To me among the rest ? 

None else can give my soul relief, 

None else can ease my moan, 
But he whose absence is my grief--; 

All others' joys be gone. 

How can I <jease from sad complaint, 

How can I be at rest ? 
My mind can never be content, 

To want my noble guest. 

Drop down, mine eyes, and never tire. 

Cease not on any terms, 
Until I have my heart's desire. 

My Lord within mine arms. 

My heart, my hand, my spirits fail, 
SYhen hiding off he goes ; 



250 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART V. 

My flesh, my foes, my lusts prevail, 
And work my daily woes. 

When shall I see that glorious sight 

Will all my sins destroy ? 
That Lord of love, that lamp of light* 

Will banish all annoy ? 

O could I but from sinning cease, 

And wait on Pisgah's hill, 
Until I see him face to face, 

Then should my soul be still. 

But since corruption cleaves to me 

While I in Kedar dwell; 
O give me leave to long for thee. 

For absence is a hell. 

Thy glory should be dear to rne, 

Who me so dear hast bought : 
O save from rend'ring ill to thee 

For good which thou hast wrought, 

With fear I crave, with hope I cry, 

Oh promis'd favour send ; 
Be thou thyself, though changeling I 

Ungratefully offend. 

Out of thy way remove the lets, 

Cleanse this polluted den ; 
Tender my suits, cancel my debts s 

Sweet Jesus, say, Amen. 

SECTION VI The Song of Heaven desired by Saints on 

Earth. 

Aurora veils her rosy face 
When brighter Phoebus takes her place ; 
So glad will grace resign her room, 
To glory in the heav'nly home. 

Happy the company that's gone 
From cross to crown, from thrall to throne 
How loud they sing upon the shore, 
To which they sail'cl in heart before ! 



THE BELIEVER'S SOLILOQUY. 257 

Bless'd are the dead, yea, saith the word, 
That die in Christ the living Lord, 
And on the other side of death 
Thus joyful spend their praising breath: 

" Death from all death has set us free, 
And will our gain for ever be ; 
Death loos' d the massy chain of wo, 
To let the mournful captives go. 

Death is to us a sweet repose ; 
The bud was op'd to shew the rose ; 
The cage was broke to let us fly, 
And build our happy nest on high. 

Lo, here we do triumphant reign, 
And joyful sing in lofty strain : 
Lo, here we rest, and love to be, 
Enjoying more than faith could see. 

The thousandth part we now behold, 
By mortal tongues was never told ; 
We got a taste, but now above 
We forage in the fields of love. 

Faith once stole down a distant kiss, 
Now love cleaves lo the cheek of bliss : 
Beyond the fears of more mishap 
We gladly rest in glory's lap. 

Earth was to us a seat of war, 

In thrones of triumph now we are. 

We long'd to see our Jesus dear. 

And sought him there, but find him here. 

We walk in white without annoy, 
In glorious galleries of joy : 
And crown'd with everlasting days, 
We rival Cherubs in their praise. 

No longer we complain of wants, 
We see the glorious King of saints, 
Amidst his joyful hosts around, 
With all the divine glory crown'd. 



258 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART V. 

We see him at his table head 
With living water, living bread, 
His cheerful guests incessant load 
With all the plentitude of God. 

We see the holy flaming fires, 
Cherubic and seraphic choirs ; 
And gladly join with those on high, 
To warble praise eternally. 

Glory to God that here we came, 
And glory to the glorious Lamb. 
Our light, our life, our joy, our all 
Is in our arms, and ever shall. 

Our Lord is ours, and we are his ; 
Yea, now we see him as he is : 
And hence we like unto him are, 
And full his glorious image share. 

No darkness now, no dismal night, 
No vapour intercepts the light ; 
We see for ever face to face, 
The highest Prince in highest place. 

This, this, does heav'n enough afford, 
We are for ever with the Lord : 
We want no more, for all is giv'n ; 
His presence is the heart of heav'n." 

While thus I laid my list'ning ear 
Close to the door of heav'n to hear ; 
And then the sacred page did view, 
Which told me all I heard was true ; 

Yet shew'd me that the heav'nly song 
Surpasses ev'ry mortal tongue, 
With such unutterable strains 
As none in fett'ring flesh attains. 

Then said I, " O to mount away, 
And leave this clog of heavy clay ; 
Let wings of time more hast'ly fly, 
That I may join the songs on high," 



GOSPEL SONNETS. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES, 

CONCERNING 

1. CREATION AND REDEMPTION. 

2. LAW AND GOSPEL. 

3. JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION. 

4. FAITH AND SENSE. 

5. HEAVEN AND EARTH. 



CHAPTER I. 



The Believer's Principles concerning Creation and \ Re- 
demption ; or, Some of the first principles of the Oracles 
of God. 



The First Chapter of Genesis compendised ; or, The First 
Seven Days' Work, from the following Latin Lines Eng- 
lished : 

Prima dies ccelum, & terrain, lucemque, ereavit. 
Altera distendit spatium, discrimen aquarum. 
Tertia secernens undas, dat gramina terris. 
Quarta creat solem et lunam, ccelestiaque astra. 
Quinta dedit pisces eadem genus omne volantum. 
Sexta tulit pecudes, hominem quoque quern Deus ipse 
Condidit ; inde operis requies lux septiraa fulsit. 

In English thus : 

1. The first day heaven, earth, light, jEHOVAH~sent. 

2. The next, a water-sundring firmament. 



260 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

3. The third made dry land spring with flowery pride. 

4. The fourth set up bright lamps time to divide. 

5. The fifth brought swimming fish and flying fowl. 

6. The sixth, earth's herds, and man to bear the rule. 

7. The seventh brought forth no more, yet brought the 

best, 
The lab'ring creatures' and Creator's rest. 

Or thus : 

The first day at Jehovah's word, 

Did heaven, and earth, and light afford. 

The next, a firmament so wide 
As might the waters' course divide. 

The third, severing land from seas, 

Made earth produce herbs, grass, and trees. 

The fourth, sun, moon, and stars of light, 
Set up to rule the day and night. 

The fifth made fish in depths to move, 
And fowls to fly in air above. 

The sixth all earthly beasts did bring, 
And man to be the creatures' king. 

The seventh, of all these days the best, 
Was made for God, and man the rest. 

Redemption-work doth bring again 
The first of these to be the main. 

Fetching new heavens and earth in sight, 
And immortality to light. 

Since then the first is now the best, 
Keep well this pledge of endless rest. 

The Sum of Creation. 

All things from nothing, to their sov'reign Lord 
Obedient rose at his commanding word. 
Fair in his eye the whole creation stood : 
He saw the building and pronounc'd it good. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 261 

And now each work (while nature's fabric stands) 
Loud for its wise and mighty Lord demands 
A rent of praise, a loud and lofty song, 
From ev'ry rational beholder's tongue. 

SECTION II Of Redemption. The mystery of the 

Redeemer's incarnation; or God manifested in the flesh, 
1 Tim. iii. 16 ; John i. 14. 

What though the waters struck with dread, 
Rise up and form a pyramid ? 
Though floods should gush from rocks and stones, 
Or living souls from wither'd bones ? 

To hear of an incarnate God, 
Is yet more wonderful and odd ; 
Or to behold how God most high 
Could in our nature breathe and die. 

What though the bright angelic forms 
Degraded were to crawling worms ? 
These creatures were but creatures still, 
Transform'd at their Creator's will. 

Though creatures change a thousand ways, 
It cannot such amazement raise, 
Nor such a scene as this display, 
Th' eternal Word a piece of clay. 

God-man a strange contexture fixed ; 
Yet not confused nor co-mixed ; 
Yet still a mystery great and fresh, 
A Spirit infinite made flesh. 

What though when nothing heard his call, 
Nothing obeyed and brought forth all ; 
What though he nothing's brood maintain, 
Or all annihilate again ? 

Let nothing into being pass, 
Or back again to what it was ? 
But, lo ! the God of beings here, 
As turned to nothing doth appear* 



262 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

All heaven's astonished at his form, 
The mighty God became a worm. 
Down Arian pride to him shall bow, 
He's Jesus and Jehovah too. 

The Sum of REDEMPTION. 

With haughty mind to Godhead man aspired, 
With loving mind our manhood God desired; 
Man was by pride from place of pleasure chased, 
God man by love in greater pleasure placed. 

Man seeking to ascend procured our fall, 
God yielding to descend removed our thrall : 
The judge was cast, the guilty to acquit, 
The Sun defaced to lend the shades the light. 

SECTION III The Redeemer's Work, or Christ all 

in all, and our complete Redemption. A Gospel-Cate- 
chism for Young Christians. 

Question. 

Kind teacher, may I come to learn 

In this abrupt address, 
By framing questions that concern 

My endless happiness ? 

Answer* 

Yea, child ; but if you'd learn to run 

The great salvation- race, 
Know that the name of Christ alone 

Can answer every case. 

Q. By sin, my God and all is lost, 

O where may God be found ? 
A. In Christ ; for so the Holy Ghost 

Shews by the joyful sound. 

Q. But how will God with sinful me 

Again be reconciled ? 
A. In Christ, in whom his grace to thee 

And favour is revealed. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 263 

Q. O haw shall I a sharer prove, 

And see his glorious grace ; 
A. In Christ the image of his love, 

And brightness of his face. 

Q. Where shall I seek all divine store. 

And without fail obtain ? 
A. In Christ, in whom for evermore 

His fulness doth remain. 

Q. But how shall I escape and flee 

TV avenging wrath of God ? 
A. In Christ, who bore upon the tree 

That whole amazing load. 

Q. Alas ! I'm daily apt to stray, 

How shall I heavenward make? 
A. Through Christ the consecrated way, 

Designed for thee to take. 

Q. Ah ! where's my title, right, or claim 

To that eternal bliss ? 
A. In Christ alone, that glorious name, 

The Lord our righteousness. 

Q. But who unfit can enter there, 

Or with such nasty feet ? 
A. Christ by his blood presents thee fair, 

His Spirit makes thee meet. 

Q. But may'nt my Spirit, weak as grass, 

Fail ere it reach the length ? 
A. Jesus, the Lord thy righteousness, 

Will be the Lord thy strength. 

Q. May'nt hellish hosts, and wicked foes, 

Sore by the way molest? 
A. Christ is a friend to bridle those, 

And give the weary rest. 

Q. May'nt guilty conscience loudly brand, 

And all my comfort chase ? 
A. Christ with a pardon in his hand 

Can shew his smiling face. 



264 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

Q. But how can divine mercy vent, 
Where sins are great and throng? 

A. Christ is the channel with descent 
That mercy runs along. 

Q. But may not justice interpose, 

And stand in mercy's way? 
A. Jesus did all the debt thou owest 

To divine justice pay. 

Q. Where shall mine eyes the pardon spy, 

Unto my saving good? 
A. In Christ's free promise see it lie, 

In his atoning blood. 

Q. What ground have I to trust and say, 

The promise is not vain ? 
A. In Christ the promises are Yea, 

In him they are Amen. 

Q. But where is Christ himself, O where, 

With promises so sweet? 
A. Christ's in the promises, and there 

Thy faith and he may meet. 

Q. Is Christ in them, and they in Christ ? 

How shall I this descry ? 
A. His blood and Spirit therein list 

To seal and to apply. 

Q. 'Gainst legal fiery threats of wrath, 

Pray, what defence is best ? 
A. Christ's full obedience ey'd by faith ; 

There should the guilty rest. 

Q. But how shall faith be had ? Alas 

I find I can't believe. 
A. Christ is the author of that grace, 

And faith is his to give. 

Q. Ah! when may faithless I expect 

He'll such a bliss bequeath ? 
A. He will of unbelief convict, 

And pave the way for faith. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 285 

Q. Repentance must attend, but whence 

Shall I this grace receive ? 
A. Christ is exalted as a prince 

All needful grace to give. 

Q. How can so vile a lump of dust 

Heart-holiness expect ? 
A. Christ by his Holy Spirit must 

This gradual change effect. 

Q. How shall I do the works aright 

I'm daily bound unto ? 
A. Christ in thee, by his Spirit's might 

Works both to will and do. 

Q. How shall my maladies be healed, 

So sore molesting me? 
A. Christ is the great Physician sealed. 

The Lord that healeth thee* 
Q. By prayer I ought to seek his face, 

This course how shall I drive? 
A. 'Tis Christ alone that has the grace 

And sp'rit of prayer to give. 

Q. Salvation-work is great and high, 

Alas ! what shall I do ? 
A. Christ as the Alpha thereof, ay, 

And the Omega too. 
Q. What pillar then is most secure 

To build my hope upon ? 
A. Christ only the foundation sure, 

The living corner-stone. 

Q. When I'm with black pollution stained 

How shall I cleansed be? 
A. Christ is a fountain for that end 

Set open wide for thee. 

Q. What shall I do, when plagues abound, 

With sorrows, griefs, and fears ? 
A. Christ has a balsam for thy wounds, 

A bottle for thy tears. 

s 



266 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

Q. But is there any help for one 

That utterly is lost ? 
A. Christ saves from sin, and he alone, 

Even to the uttermost. 

Q. But where shall I be safe at last 

From hell and endless death ? 
A. Christ is a refuge from the blast 

Of everlasting wrath. 

Q. But mayn't even nat'ral death to me 

Become a dreadful thing ? 
A. Christ by his death in love to thee, 

Did every death unsting. 

Q. Why, Sir, is Christ the whole you say ? 

No answer else I find. 
A. Because, were Christ our all away, 

There's nothing left behind. 

Q. How can he answer every case, 

And help in every thrall? 
A. Because he is the Lord of grace, 

Jehovah, all in all. 

Q. How is he present to supply, 

And to relieve us thus? 
A. Because his glorious name is nigh, 

Immanuel, God with us. 
Q. Has he alone all power to save, 

Is nothing left to man? 
A. Yea, without Christ we nothing have, 

Without him nothing can. 

Q. Mayn't some from hence take latitude 
And room their lusts to please — 

If Christ do all, then very good, 
Let us take carnal ease ? 

A. Christ will in flaming vengeance come, 

With fury in his face, 
To damn his foes that dare presume, 

And thus abuse his grace. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 267 

SECTION IV Faith and Works both excluded from the 

matter of justification before God, that redemption may ap- 
pear to be only in Christ, 

Who dare an holy God address, 
With an unholy righteousness? 
Who can endure his awful probe, 
Without perfection for their robe? 

None could his great tribunal face, 
Were faith itself their fairest dress : 
Faith takes the robe, but never brags 
Itself has ought but filthy rags. 

Faith claims no share, and works far less, 
Injustice pleasing righteousness ; 
The servant were to be abhorred, 
Would claim the glory of his lord. 

Blasphemous unbelief may claim 
The praises of the worthy Lamb : 
But faith disclaiming all its best, 
Not on itself, but Christ, will rest. 

I'm saved and justified by faith, 
Which yet no saving value hath; 
Nor e'er pretends to save from thrall 
But in its object has its all. 

? Tis Christ alone saves guilty me, 
And makes my right to life so free, 
That in himself it stands alone : 
Faith takes the right, but gives me none. 

I dare not act with this intent, 
For acts of mine to draw the rent : 
Nor do good works with this design, 
To win the crown by works of mine. 

I'd thus the promised grace forsake, 
Nor Jesus for my Saviour take ; 
Yea, this would dreadfully presume, 
And work mine own eternal doom. 

$2 



$68 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

Presumption cannot rise more high, 
I'd make the truth of God a lie, 
The God of truth a liar too I 
What more mischief could Satan do ? 

Why, I'd discredit God's record 
Concerning Jesus Christ the Lord, 
His glorious and eternal Son, 
Whose blood has life eternal won, 

In him, says God, this life I give, 
In him shall therefore men believe, 
My gift embracing in their arms : 
None shall be saved on other terms. 

Vain man must stoop and freely take* 
Or else embrace a burning lake ; 
Proud nature must submit to grace* 
And to the divine righteousness* 

In vain on works our hope is built, 
Our actions nothing are but guilt : 
The best obedience of our own, 
Dare not appear before his throne. 

What finite worm can bear the load* 
The fury of an angry God ? 
What mortal vigour can withstand 
The vengeance of his lifted hand ? 

The law can never save us now, 
To damn is all that it can do. 
Heaven casts all righteousness of ours; 
The law of works is out of doors. 

No merit, money, more or less, 
Can buy the gifts of righteousness. 
O may I take what heav'n does give : 
Jehgvah help me to believe ; 

And in that righteousness to trust, 
Which only makes a sinner just, 
And then, the truth of faith to prove, 
Lord? make my faith to work by love. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 269 



CHAPTER II. 

The Believer's Principles concerning the Law and 
Gospel. Particularly, 

1. THE MYSTERY 

2. THE DIFFERENCE 

3. THE HARMONY 

4. THE PLACE AND STATION 

SECTION I The Mystery o/Law and Gospel. 

Though law-commands and gospel-grace 
Agree in mutual joint embrace, & 
Yet law and gospel in a shock 
Can never draw an equal yoke, b 

The law of works, the law of grace, 
Can't stand together in one place ; 
The brighter scene destroys the dark, 
As Dagon fell before the ark. c 

a Rom. iii. 31, Do we then make void the law through faith? 
God forbid; yea, we establish the law. Gal. iii. 21, Is the law then 
against the promises of God ? God forbid : for if there had been a 
law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should 
have been by the law. 

b Psalm cxxx. 3, 4, If thou Lord shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, 
who shall stand ? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest 
be feared, v. 7, 8, Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord 
there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall 
redeem Israel from all his iniquities. And cxliii. 2, O Lord, enter 
not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man 
living be justified, v. 8, Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the 
morning, for in thee do I trust : cause me to know the way wherein 
I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto thee. 

c Rom. xvi. 14, 15, Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye 
are not under the law but under grace ? What then? shall we sin, 
because we are not under the law, but under grace ? God forbid. 
Chap. vii. 4 — 6, Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead 
to the law, by the body of Christ ; that ye should be married to another, 
even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit 
unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins which 
were by the law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto 

s3 



270 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

They harmonize like married pairs, d 
Yet are at odds, and keep not squares : e 
As mercy stands from merit far 
The letter and the spirit jar. f 

The law does gospel-comforts harm, 
The gospel breaks the legal arm ; g 
Yet both exalt each other's horn, 
And garlands bring their head t' adorn, k 

I through the law am dead to it, 
To legal works and self-conceit ; i 
Yet, lo ! through gospel grace I live, 
And to the law due honour give, k 

death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein 
we were held ; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the 
oldness of the letter. 2 Cor. iii. 7 — 10, But if the ministration of 
death, written and engraven in stone, was glorious, so that the child- 
ren of Israel could not behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his 
countenance, which glory was to be done away ; how shall not the 
ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious ? For if the ministration 
of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righte- 
ousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious, 
hath no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 

d Gal. iii. 24, Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us 
unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 

e Rom. xi. 6, And if [election be] by grace, then it is no more of 
works; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, 
then it is no more grace : otherwise work is no more work. 

/2 Cor. iii. 6, The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 

g Heb. ii. 15, And deliver them who through fear of death were all 
their life time subject to bondage. Phil. iii. 7 — 9, But what things 
were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, 
and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge 
of Christ Jesus my Lord : for whom I have suffered the loss of all 
things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ, and be 
found in him, not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, 
but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which 
is of God by faith. 

h Gal. ii. 19, For I through the law, am dead to the law, that I 
might live unto God. 

i Rom. vii. 6, But now we are delivered from the law, that being 
dead wherein we were held ; that we should serve in newness of spirit, 
and not in the oldness of the letter, v. 9, For I was alive without the 
law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 

& Rom. vii. 4 X Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 271 

The law great room for boasting makes, 
But grace my pride and boasting breaks ; 
Yet all my boasts the law doth kill, m 
And grace makes room to boast my fill, n 

The gospel makes me keep the law, o 
Yet from its painful service draw ; p 
It does all law-demands fulfil, q 
Yet makes them wholly void and null, r 

The gospel gives me no command, s 
Yet by obeying it 1 stand, t 

to the law by the body of Christ ; that ye should be married to ano- 
ther, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring 
forth fruit unto God. And x. 4, Christ is the end of the law for 
righteousness to every one that believeth. 

I Rom. vii. 4, Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what 
law? of works ? Nay ; but by the law of faith. 

m Rom. iii. 19, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, 
it saith to them who are under the law : that every mouth may be 
stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 

n 1 Cor. i. 29 — 31, That no flesh should glory in his presence. 
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wis- 
dom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption : that, 
according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 

o Titus ii. 11, 12, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation 
hath appeared to all men; teaching us, that denying ungodliness and 
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this 
present world. 

p Gal. v. 1, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath 
made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage, 

q Rom. viii. 3, 4, For what the law could not do, in that it was 
weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness 
of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh ; that the righte- 
ousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the 
flesh, but after the Spirit. 

r Rom. vi. 14, Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are 
not under the law, but under grace. Gal. iv. 4, 5, But when the 
fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a wo- 
man, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law. 

s Gal. iii. 8, And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify 
the Heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, 
saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 

t Mark xyi. 16, He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved. 



272 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART Vf. 

To strict obedience though I call, u 
Does bind to none, bat promise all. v 

The law does strict commandment give? 
That I the gospel-news believe ; w 
But yet it teaches no such thing, 
Nor e'er could gospel-tidings bring, x 

When I the gospel-truth believe, 
Obedience to the law I give, y 
And when ! don't the law* observe, 
I from the gospel method swerve, z 

Yet, if I do the lawf obey, 
I am not in the gospel- way, a 

u 1 Thess. i. 7,8, The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, 
with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them thaS 
know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

v John iii. 17, God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the 
world ; but that the world through him might be saved. And xii. 47, 
And if any man hear my words and believe not, I judge him not ; for 
I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. Heb. viii. 10, 
— 12, For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of 
Israel after those days, saith the Lord ; I will put my laws into their 
mind, and write them in their hearts : and I will be to them a God, 
and they shall be to me a people. And they shall not teach every 
man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the 
Lord ; for all shall know me from the least to the greatest. For I 
will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their ini- 
quities will I remember no more. 

w John iii. 18, He tbat believeth on him is not condemned; but 
he that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not be- 
lieved in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

x Rom. s. 5, For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of 
the law, That the man which doeth these things, shall live by them. 
And iii. 19, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it 
saith to them who are under the law ; that every mouth may be 
stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 

y John iii. 18, He that believeth on him is not condemned. 

* Viz. As it is a rule. 

z Titus ii. 11, 12, See letter o forecited. 

f Viz. As it is a covenant. 

a Gal. v. 3, 4, For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, 
that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no 
effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law ; ye are 
fallen from grace. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 273 

Which does to new obedience draw, b 
Yet is the gospel no new law, c 

As precepts to the law belong-, 
Yet in the gospel field are throng, d 
Curs'd ev'ry gospel-slighter is, e 
Yet all its office is to bless./* 

It from the law has pow'r to kill, g 
Yet saving does its power fulfil : h 

b Rom. xvi. 25, 26, The mystery which was kept secret since the 
world began, now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the pro- 
phets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made 
known to all nations for the obedience of faith. 

c Gal. iii. 21, Is the law then against the promises of God? God 
forbid j for if there had been a law given which could have given life, 
verily righteousness should have been by the law, 

d Matt. v. 17 — 48, Think not that I am come to destroy the law or 
the prophets : I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily, 1 
say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall 
in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled, &c. Psalm cxix. 96, 
I have seen an end of all perfection ; but thy commandment is exceed- 
ing broad. 

e Heb. x. 26 — 29, For if we sin wilfully after that we have received 
the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 
but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, 
which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law 
died without mercy, under two or three witnesses : of how much sorer 
punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trod- 
den under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the 
covenant wherein he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done 
despite unto the Spirit of grace ? Chap. xii. 25, See that ye refuse 
not him that speaketh; for if they escaped not who refused him that 
spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from 
him that speaketh from heaven. 

j Rom. xv. 29, And 1 am sure that when I come unto you, I shall 
come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. And iii. 
26, Unto you first, God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to 
bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. 

g John iii. 18, He that believeth not is condemned already, because 
he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 
Mark xvi. 16, He that believeth not shall be damned. Heb. ii. 3, 
How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation ? 

h Eph. i. 13, In Christ ye also trusted after that ye heard the word 
of truth, the gospel of your salvation. 1 Tim. i. 15, This is a faithful 
saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the 
world to save sinners ; of whom I am the chief. 



274 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

No savour but of life it hath, i 
Yet most the savour is of death, k 

Weakness perfection doth exclude, 
The law is perfect, just, and good : / 
Yet can it nothing perfect make, 
But all the comers to it break, m 

Strength to the gospel does belong, 
Mighty through God it is, and strong: n 
It to the law does strength emit, 
Yet 'tis the law gives strength to it. 

The gospel gives the law, I see, 
Sufficient strength to justify ; o 

i Phil ii. 16, Holding forth the word of life, &c. 2 Tim. i. 1, 
Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, according to the 
promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus, v. 10, Our Saviour Jesus 
Christ hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to 
light through the gospel. 

k 2 Cor. ii. 16, To the one we are the savour of death unto death, &c. 

Z Psalm cxix. 96, I have seen an end of all perfection ; but thy 
commandment is exceeding broad. Rom. vii. 12, Wherefore the law 
is holy; and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Heb. vii. 
19, For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better 
hope did ; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 

m Heb. viii. 19, See letter k. Chap. x. 1, For the law having a 
shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, 
can never, with those sacrifices which they offered year by year con- 
tinually, make the comers thereunto perfect. 

n Rom. i. 16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for 
it is the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth, to 
the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 2 Cor. x. 4, 5, For the weapons 
of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling 
down of strong holds : casting down imaginations and every high thing 
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringeth into 
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 

o Rom. viii. 1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them 
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after 
the Spirit, v. 3, 4, For what the law could not do, in that it was 
weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son, in the likeness 
of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh : that the righte- 
ousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the 
flesh, but after the Spirit. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 275 

Yet may I say, in truth it is 

The law that gives the gospel this;j» 

For as the law no sinner clears, 
But who the gospel-garment wears : 
So none are justify'd by grace, 
Unless the law-demands have place, q 

Again the law, which yet seems worse, 
Gives gospel-news condemning force ; r 
Yet they are news that never can, 
Nor never will condemn a man. s 

Dread threat'nings to the law pertain, t 
Not to the gospel's golden chain : u 

p Rom. iii. 31, Do we then make void the law through faith? God 
forbid; yea, we establish the law. Chap. x. 4, For Christ is the end 
of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 

q Rom. iii. 19 — 22, Now we know that what things soever the 
law saith, it saith to them who are under the law ; that every mouth 
may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in 
his sight : for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the 
righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed 
by the law and the prophets ; even the righteousness of God which is 
by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe ; for 
there is no difference. Chap. v. 19, — By the obedience of one shall 
many be made righteous, v. 21, — Grace reigns through righteousness 
unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

r John iii. 18, He that believeth on him is not condemned; but 
he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not be- 
lieved in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

s Luke ii. 10, 11, And the angel said unto them [the shepherds,] 
Fear not ; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which 
shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of 
David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. John iii. 17, For God 
sent not his Son into the world, to condemn the world; but that the 
world through him might be saved. Chap. xii. 47, And if any man 
hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not : for I came not to 
judge the world, but to save the world. 

t Gal. iii. 10, For as many as are of the works of the law, are un- 
der the curse ; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth 
not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 

u Acts xiii. 26, Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abra- 
ham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of 
this salvation sept. 



276 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

Yet all law-threats and Sinai's ire 
To gospel-grace are walls of fire, v 

The righteous law assaileth none 
Of Adam's guilty race, save one ; w 
Who being guilty, for this cause 
By God's just law condemned was. x 

Yet free of guilt it did him see ; 
Hence fully clear'd, and set him free, y 
Yet, had not guilt his soul involv'd, 
By law he could not been absolv'd. z 

But he withal condemn'd and spoil'd 
The law of works, which him assoil'd : a 

v Mark xvi. 16, He that believeth not shall be damned. Heb. ii. 
3, How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? Chap. x. 
26—29, See letter d forecited. 

w Rom. v. 19, For as by one man's disobedience many were made 
sinners : so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 
Jobn xvii. 4, I have glorified thee on the earth ; 1 have finished the 
work which thou gavest me to do. 

x Isa. liii. 6, The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 
Gal. iii. 13, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being 
made a curse for us ; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hang- 
eth on a tree. 

y Heb. vii. 26, For such an high priest became us, who is holy, 
harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the 
heavens. Dan. ix. 24, Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, 
and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an 
end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in 
everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and 
to anoint the most holy. I Tim. iii. 16, And without controversy, 
great is the mystery of Godliness ; God was manifest in the flesh, 
justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, 
believed on in the world, received up into glory. Rom. ii. 13, For 
not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the 
law shall be justified. Isa 1. 8, He is near that justifieth me, who 
will contend with me ? let us stand together, who is mine adversary ? 
let him come near to me. 

z 2 Cor. v. 21, God hath made Christ to be sin for us, who knew 
no sin ; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 
1 Pet. iii. 18, Christ hath once suffered for sins, the just for the 
unjust, (that he might bring us to God) being put to death in the 
flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. 

a Col. ii. 14, 15, Blotting out the hand- writing of ordinances that 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 277 

And now the law is (in these views) 
The marrow of the gospel news, b 

The law can justify no man 
That is a sinner, c yet it can 
Thus favour sinful men, and free 
The chief of sinners, guilty me : d 

The gospel too acquitteth none 
That have not put perfection on. e 
And yet it cleareth none (I grant) 
But those who ail perfection want.y 

was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, 
nailing it to his cross, and having spoiled principalities and powers, 
he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Rom. 
viii. 3, For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through 
the flesh, God did, sending his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, 
and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. 

b Rom. x. 4, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, to 
every one that believeth. Isa. xlv, 24, Surely shall one say, In the 
Lord have I righteousness and strength. Jer. xxiii. 6, In his days 
Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely ; and this is his 
name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUS* 
NESS. 

c Rom. iii. 19, 20, Now we know that what things soever the law 
saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may 
be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. There- 
fore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his 
sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

d The law of works, as fulfilled by Christ, can and does so. Rom. 
viii. 3, For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through 
the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and 
for sin, condemned sin in the flesh : that the righteousness of the 
law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after 
the Spirit, v. 33, 34, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of 
God's elect ? It is God that justifieth ; who is he that condemneth ? 
It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at 
the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 

e Rom. iii. 21, 22, But now the righteousness of God without the 
law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets ; even 
the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, 
and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference. 

yRom. iv. 5, To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that 
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 



278 GOSPEL SONNETS 4 . [PART VI* 

Those that with gospel clearance meet, 
Must by the law be found complete ; g 
Yet never could (again I grant) 
The gospel justify a saint, h 

All perfect persons it controls, i 
And justifies ungodly souls; k 

g 1 Cor. i. 30, But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is 
made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and re- 
demption. Col. ii. 10, And ye are complete in him, which is the 
head of all principality and power. 

h Matt. ix. 13, I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to 
repentance. Rom. iii. 10, There is none righteous, no not one. 
Chap. ix. 30 — 32, What shall we say then ? That the Gentiles 
which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteous- 
ness, even the righteousness which is of faith : but Israel which fol- 
lowed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law 
of righteousness. Wherefore V because they sought it not by faith, 
but as it were by the works of the law. Chap. x. 3, Israel being ig- 
norant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own 
righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness 
of God. 1 Tim. i. 15, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all 
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ; 
of whom I am the chief. 

i Matt. xxi. 31, Jesus said unto thein [the Pharisees] Verily, I 
say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom 
of God before you. Luke xviii. 19 — 24, And Jesus spake this para- 
ble unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righte*- 
ous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; 
the one a Pharisee, and the other a Publican. The Pharisee stood 
and prayed thus with himself: God, I thank thee that I am not as 
other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this pub- 
lican. I fast twice in the week, 1 give tithes of all that I possess. 
And the publican standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his 
eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be mer- 
ciful to me a sinner. 1 tell you this man went down to his house 
justified rather than the other ; for every one that exalteth himself, 
shall be abased ; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted, v. 
21, 22, And he [the ruler] said, All these have I kept from my 
youth up. Now when Je>us heard these things, he said unto him, 
Yet lackest thou one thing ; sell all that thou hast, and distribute 
unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, 
follow me. 

k Rom. iv. 5, 6, To him that worketh not, but believeth on him 
that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 
Even as David also descnbeth the blessedness of the man unto whom 
God imputeth righteousness without works. 



The believer's principles. 279 

Yet still no man its grace partakes, 
By whom it truly godly makes. / 

The law withstands the gospel path, m 
Which yet its approbation hath ; n 
The gospel thwarts the legal way, o 
Yet will approv r e the law for aye. jo 

Hence though the gospel's comely frame 
Doth openly the law condemn : q 

I Titus ii. 11 — 14, The grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath 
appeared to all men ; teaching us, that denying ungodliness, and 
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this 
present world : looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious ap- 
pearing of the great God, even our Saviour Jesus Christ : who gave 
himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify 
unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Chap. iii. 
4, 5, After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward 
man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, 
but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regenera- 
tion, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, v. 8, This is a faithful say- 
ing, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they 
which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works : 
these things are good and profitable unto men. 

m 1 Cor. xv. 56, The strength of sin is the law. Rom. vi. 34, 
Sin shall not have dominion over you ; for ye are not under the law, 
but under grace. Chap. x. 3, Israel being ignorant of God's righteous- 
ness, have not submitted themselves unt'0 the righteousness of God. 

n Isa. xlii. 21, The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' 
sake, he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Matt. iii. 17, 
And lo, a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom 
I am well pleased. 

o Rom. ix. 31 — 33, But Israel which followed after the law of 
righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Where- 
fore ? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the 
works of the law ; for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone ; as it 
is written, Behold I lay in Zion a stumbling-stone, and a rock of 
offence ; and whosoever belie veth on him shall not be ashamed. 

p Rom. vii. 7, What shall we say then ? Is the law sin? God 
forbid. Nay, I had not known sin but by the law; for I had not 
known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet, v. 10, 
And the commandment which was ordianed to life, I found to be unto 
death, v. 12, Wherefore the law is holy ; and the commandment is 
holy, and just, and good. 

q Rom. v. 5 — 9, For Moses describeth the righteousness which is 
of the law, That the man which doth those things, shall live by them. 



280 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

Yet they are blind who never saw 
The gospel justify the law. r 

Thus gospel-grace, and law-commands, 
Both bind and loose each other's hands : 
They can't agree on any terms, s 
Yet hug each other in their arms, t 

Those that divide them cannot be 
The friends of truth and verity ; u 

But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not 
in thine heart, who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring down 
Christ from above :) or Who shall descend into the deep ? (that is, 
to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it V The 
world is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart ; that is, the 
word of faith which we preach, that if thou shalt confess with thy 
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath 
raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

r Rom. iii. 31, Do we then make void the law through faith? 
God forbid : yea, we establish the law. 

s Gal. iv. 21 — 26, Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do 
ye not hear the law ? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons*; 
the one by a bond maid, the other by a free-woman. But he who 
was of the blood of the bond woman was born after the flesh ; but he 
of the free-woman was by promise. Which things are an allegory ; 
for those are the two covenants ; the one from the mount Sinai, which 
gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai 
in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem, which now is, and is in bon- 
dage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which 
is the mother of us all. 

t Psalm lxxxiv. 10, Mercy and truth are met together ; righte- 
ousness and peace have kissed each other, 

u Matt. xiii. 23, Wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ; 
for ye pay tithe of mint and anise, and cummin, and have omitted 
the weighter matters of the law, judgment mercy, and faith; these 
ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Rom. 
ii. 23, Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the 
law dishonourest thou God ? v. 25, 26, For circumcision verily pro- 
fiteth nothing, if thou keep the law ; but if thou be a breaker of the 
law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore, if the un- 
circumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not this uncir- 
cumcision be counted for circumcision ? Matt. xix. 6, What God hath 
joined together, let no man put assunder. Chap. iii. 15, And Jesus 
answering, said unto him [John], Suffer it to be so now : for thus it 
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. Chap* 
v. 17, Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets : 



I'HE believer's principles. 281 

Yet those that dare confound the two, 
Destroy them both, and gender wo. v 

This paradox none can decipher, 
That plow not with the gospel-heifer. 

SECTION II. — The difference between the Law and the 
Gospel. 

The law, supposing I have all, 
Does ever for perfection call ; 
The gospel suits my total want, 
And all the law can seek does grant. 

The law could promise life to me, 
If my obedience perfect be : 
But grace does promise life upon 
My Lord's obedience alone. 

I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil, v. 19, 20, Whosoever there- 
fore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach 
men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven ; but who- 
soever shall do, and teach them, the same shall be called great in the 
kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, that except your righte- 
ousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, 
ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 1 John 
v. 6, This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ ; 
not by water only, but by water and blood; and it is the Spirit that 
beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 

v Gal. i. 6 — 8, I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him 
that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel ; which 
is not another ; but there be some that trouble you, and which per- 
vert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven 
preach any other gospel unto you, than that which we have preached 
unto you, let him be accursed. Zeph. i. 4, I will cut off. — v. 5. — 
them that worship, and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by 
Malcham. Acts xv. 7, And when there had been much disputing, 
Peter rose up and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know that a 
good while ago, God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my 
mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe, v. 10, 11, 
Now therefore, why tempt ye God to put a yoke on the neck of. the 
disciples, which neither our fathers nor we are able to bear ? But 
we believe, that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall 
be saved, even as they. Gal. v. I, Stand fast therefore in the liberty 
wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again in 
the yoke of bondage, v. 4, Christ is become of no effect unto you, 
whosoever of you are justified by the law ; ye are fallen from grace. 

T 



282 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

The law says. Do, and life you'll win 
But grace says, Live, for all is done ; 
The former cannot ease my grief, 
The latter yields me full relief. 

By law convine'd of sinful breach, 
By gospel-grace I comfort reach. 
The one my condemnation bears, 
The other justifies and clears. 

The law shews my arrears are great, 
The gospel freely pays my debt : 
The first does me the bankrupt curse, 
The last does bl^ss and fill my purse. 

The law will not abate a mite, 
The gospel all the sum will quite : 
There God in threat'nings is array'd, 
But here in promises display'd. 

The law and gospel disagree, 
Like Hagar, Sarah, bond and free : 
The former's Hagar's servitude, 
The latter, Sarah's happy brood. 

To Sinai black, and Zion fair, 
The word does law and grace compare- 
Their cursing and their blessing vie 
With Ebal and Gerizim high. 

The law excludes not boasting vain, 
But rather feeds it to my bane : 
But gospel-grace allows no boasts, 
Save in the King, the Lord of hosts. 

The law still irritates my sin, 
And hardens my poor heart therein ; 
But grace's melting power renews, 
And my corruption strong subdues. 

The law with thunder, Sinai-like, 
Does always dread and terror speak ; 
The gospel makes a joyful noise, 
And charms me with a still, calm voice. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 23-3 

The legal trumpet war proclaims, 
In wrathful threats, and fire, and flames : 
The gospel-pipe, a peaceful sound, 
Which spreads a kindly breath around. 

The law is weak through sinful flesh, 
The gospel brings recruits afresh : 
The first a killing letter wears, 
The last a quick'ning spirit bears. 

The law that seeks perfection's height, 
Yet gives no strength, nor offers might ; 
But precious gospel-tidings glad, 
Declare where all is to be had. 

From me alone the law does crave, 
What grace affirms in Christ I have : 
When therefore law-pursuits inthrall, 
I send the law to grace for all. 

The law brings terrors to molest, 
The gospel gives the weary rest: 
The one does flags of death display, 
The other shews the living way. 

The law by Moses was exprest, 
The glorious gospel came by Christ : 
The first dim nature's light may trace, 
The last is only known by grace. 

The law may rouse me from my sloth, 
To faith and to repentance both : 
And though the law commandeth each, 
Yet neither of them can it teach, 

Nor will accept for current coin 
The duties which it does injoin ; 
It seeks all, but accepts no less 
Than constant perfect righteousness. 

The gospel, on the other hand, 
Although it issue no command, 
But strictly view'd, does whole consist 
In promises and offers blest; 
t2 



284 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

Yet does it many duties teach, 
Which legal light couid never reach : 
Thus faith, repentance, and the like, 
Are fire that gospel-engines strike. 

They have acceptance here through grace, 
The law affords them no such place : 
Yet still they come through both their hands- 
Through gospel-teaching, law commands. 

The law's a house of bondage sore, 
The gospel opes the prison-door ; 
The first me hamper'd in its net, 
The last at freedom kindly set. 

The precept craves, the gospel gives ; 
While that me presses, this relieves ; 
And or affords the strength I lack, 
Or takes the burden off my back. 

The law requires on pain of death ; 
The gospel courts with loving breath : 
While that conveys a deadly wound, 
This makes me perfect, whole, and sound. 

There viewing how diseas'd I am, 
I here perceive the healing balm : 
Afflicted there with sense of need, 
But here refresh'd with meet remeid. 

The law's a charge for what I owe ; 
The gospel my discharge to show: 
The one a scene of fears doth ope ; 
The other is the door of hope. 

An angry God the law reveal'd ; 
The gospel shews him reconcil'd : 
By that I know he was displeas'd ; 
By this I see his wrath appeas'd. 

The law thus shews the divine ire, 
And nothing but consuming fire. 
The gospel brings the olive-branch, 
And blood the burning fire to quench. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 285 

The law still shows a fiery face ; 
The gospel shows a throne of grace: 
There justice rides alone in state ; 
But here she takes the mercy-seat. 

IN SUM. 

Lo ! in the law Jehovah dwells. 

But Jesus is conceal'd ; 
Whereas the gospel's nothing else 

But Jesus Christ reveal'd. 

SECTION III The Harmony betwixt the Law and the 

■Gospel. 

The law's a tutor much in vogue, 
To gospel-grace a pedagogue ; 
The gospel to the law no less 
Than its full end for righteousness. 

When once the fiery law of God 
Has chas'd me to the gospel road, 
Then back unto the holy law 
Most kindly gospel-grace will draw. 

When by the law to grace I'm schooPd; 
<*race by the law will have me rul'd : 
Hence, if I don't the law obey, 
I cannot keep the gospel-way. 

When I the gospel-news believe, 
Obedience to the law I give : 
And that both in its federal dress. 
And as a rule of holiness. 

Lo ! in my Head I render all 
For which the fiery law can call ; 
His blood unto its fire was fuel, 
His Spirit shapes me to its rule. 

When law and gospel kindly meet, 
To serve each other both unite : 
Sweet promises, and stern commands* 
Do work to one another's hands- 
t3 



%86 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VX. 

The divine law demands no less 
Than human perfect righteousness ; 
The gospel gives it this and more, 
Ev'n divine righteousness in store. 

Whate'er the righteous law require, 
The gospel grants its whole desire. 
Are law commands exceeding broad ? 
So is the righteousness of God. 

How great soe'er the legal charge, 
The gospel-payment's equal large : 
No less by man the law can bray- 
When grace provides a God to pay. 

The law makes gospel banquets sweet ; 
The gospel makes the law complete : 
Law-suits to grace's store-house draw ; 
Grace decks and magnifies the law. 

Both law and gospel close combine, 
To make each other's lustre shine : 
The gospel all law-breakers shames ; 
The law all gospel-slighters damns. 

The law is holy, just, and good ; 
All this the gospel seals with blood, 
And clears the royal law's just dues 
With dearly purchas'd revenues. 

The law commands me to believe; 
The gospel saving faith does give : 
The law enjoins me to repent ; 
The gospel gives my tears a vent. 

What in the gospel mint is coin'd, 
The same is in the law enjoin'd ; 
Whatever gospel-tidings teach, 
The law's authority doth reach. 

Here join the law and gospel hands, 
What this me teaches that commands : 
What virtuous forms the gospel please 
The same the law doth authorise, 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 287 

And thus the law-commandment seals 
Whatever gospel-grace reveals : 
The gospel also for my good 
Seals all the law-demands with blood. 

The law most perfect still remains, 
And ev'ry duty full contains : 
The gospel its perfections speaks, 
And therefore gives whate'er it seeks. 

Next, what by law I'm bound unto, 
The same the gospel makes me do : 
What preceptively that can crave, 
This effectively can engrave. 

All that by precepts heaven expects, 
Free grace by promises effects : 
To what the law by fear may move 
To that the gospel leads by love. 

To run, to work, the law commands; 
The gospel gives me feet and hands : 
The one requires that I obey ; 
The other does the power convey. 

What in the law has duty's place, 
The gospel changes to a grace : 
Hence legal duties therein nam'd, 
Are herein gospel-graces fam'd. 

The precept checks me when I stray; 
The promise holds me in the way ; 
That shews my folly when I roam, 
And this most kindly brings me home. 

Law-threats and precepts both, I see, 
With gospel promises agree ; 
They to the gospel are a fence ; 
And it to them a maintenance. 

The law will justify all those 
Who with the gospel-ransom close 4 
The gospel to approve for aye 
All those that do the law obey,. 



288 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

The righteous law condemns each man 
That dare reject the gospel plan ; 
The holy gospel none will save, 
On whom it won't the law engrave. 

When Christ the tree of life I climbs 
I see both law and grace in him : 
In him the law its end does gain j 
In him the promise is Amen. 

The law makes grace's pasture sweet, 
Grace makes the law my sav'ry meat \ 
Yea, sweeter than the honey-comb, 
When grace and mercy bring it home* 

The precepts of the law me show 
What fruits of gratitude I owe; 
But gospel-grace begets the brood, 
And moves me to the gratitude. 

Law-terrors pause the putrid sore ; 
And gospel grace applies the curer 
The one plows up the fallow-ground., 
The other sows the seed around* 

A rigid master was the law, 
Demanding brick, denying straw; 
But when with gospel tongue it sings ? 
It bids me fly, and gives me wings- 

IN SUM. 

Both law and gospel close unite, 

Are seen with more solace, 
Where truth and mercy kindly meet. 

In fair Immanuel's face. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 289 



SECTION IV The proper Place and Station of the Law 

and the Gospel. 

Note, — That in the four following paragraphs, as well as in the three 
preceeding sections, by LAW, is mostly understood the doctrine 
of the Covenant of Works ; and by GOSPEL, the doctrine of the 
Covenant of Grace. 

Paragraph I. — The Place and Station o/Law and Gospel 
in general. 

When we the sacred record view, 
Of divine Test'inents Old and New; 
The matter in most pages fixed 
Is law and gospel intermixed. 

Yet few, even in a learned age 
Can so resolve the sacred page, 
As to discern with equal eye, 
Where law, where gospel severed lie. 

One divine text with double clause 
May speak the gospel's voice and law's ; * 
Hence man to blend them both are apt, 
Should in one sentence both be wrapt. 

But that we may the truth pursue, 
And give both law and grace their due, 

! * Ex. gr. Lev. xx. 7, 8, Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye 
holy : for I am the Lord your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, 
and do them : I am the Lord which sanctify you. 1 John iv. 7, Be- 
hold, let us love one another : for love is of God ; and every one 
that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. Rom. v. 21, That as 
sin bath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righte- 
ousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Chap. vi. 23, 
For the wages of sin is death : but the gift of God is eternal life, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Mark xvi. 15, 16. And he said 
unto them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every 
creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he 
that believeth not shall be damned ; John iii. 18, He that believeth 
on him, is not condemned ; but he that believeth not, is condemned 
already ; because he hath not believed on the name of the only be- 
gotten Son of God, &c. 



290 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

And God the glory there display'd ; 
The foll'wing rules will give us aid. 

Where'er in sacred writ w T e see 
A word of grace or promise free, 
With blessings dropt for Jesus' sake; 
We these for gospel-news may take. 

But where a precept strict we find 
With promise to our doing joined, 
Or threatening with a wrathful frown ; 
This as the law we justly own. 

Paragraph II. — The Place and Station of Law and Gospel 
in particular, ivhere the difference is noted betwixt the Gospel 
largely viewed in its dispensation, and strictly in itself; and 
betwixt the Gospel and Faith receiving it. 

Wouldst thou distinctly know the sound 
Of law and grace, then don't confound 
The dispensation with the grace : 
For these two have a distinct place. 

The gospel thus dispensed we see, 
" Believe and thou shalt saved be ; 
If not, thou shalt be damned to hell, 
And in eternal torments dwell." 

Here precepts in it are dispensed, 
With threatenings of damnation fenced ; 
The legal sanction here takes place, 
That none may dare abuse free grace. 

Yet nor does that command of faith, 
Nor this tremendous threat of wrath, 
Belong to gospel strictly so ; 
But to its dispensation do. 

The method of dispensing here. 
Does law and gospel jointly bear; 
Because the law's subservient 
Unto the gospel's bless'd intent. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 291 

Precepts and tbreatenings both make way ; 
The gospel blessings to convey ; 
Which differs much (though thus dispensed) 
From laws and threats whereby 'tis fenced. 

" Believe, and thou shalt saved be," 
Is gospel but improperly; 
Yet safely men may call it thus, 
Because 'tis so dispensed to us. 

But sure, the gospel-news we sing 
Must be some other glorious thing, 
Than precepts to believe the same, 
Whatever way we blend their name. 

The gospel-treasure's something more 
Than means that do apply the store : 
Believing is the method paved, 
The gospel is the thing believed. 

The precious thing is tidings sweet 
Of Christ a Saviour most complete, 
To save from sin, and death, and wrath ; 
Which tidings tend to gender faith. 

Faith comes by hearing God's record 
Concerning Jesus Christ the Lord, 
And is the method Heaven has blest 
For bringing to the gospel-rest 

The joyful sound is news of grace, 
And life to Adam's guilty race, 
Through Jesus' righteousness divine, 
Which bright from faith to faith does shine. 

The promise of immortal bliss 
Is made to this full righteousness : 
By this our right to life is bought ; 
Faith begs the right, but buys it not. 

True faith receives the offered good, 
And promise sealed with precious blood : 
It gives no title to the bliss, 
But takes th' entitling righteousness. 



292 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

This object great of saving faith, 
And this alone the promise hath ; 
For 'tis not made to faith's poor act, 
But is the prize that faith does take; 

And only as it takes the same, 

It bears a great and famous name ; 

For self, and all its grandeur, down 

It throws, that Christ may wear the crown. 

But if new laws and threats were all 
That gospel properly we call, 
Then were the precept to believe, 
No better news than " Do and live." 

If then we wont distinguish here, 
We cloud, but don't the gospel clear ; 
We blend it with the fiery law, 
And all into confusion draw. 

The law of works we introduce, 

As if old merit were in use, 

When men could life by doing win, 

Even though the work by grace were done. 

Old Adam, in his ignorance, 
Derived his power of doing hence: 
As all he could was wholly due; 
So all the working strength he knew 

Was only from the grace of God, 
Who with such favour did him load : 
Yet was the promise to his act, 
That he might merit by compact. 

No merit but of paction could 
Of men or angels e'er be told ; 
The God-man only was so high 
To merit by condignity. 

Were life now promis'd to our act, 
Or to our works by paction tack'd ; 
Though God should his assistance grant, 
'Tis still a doing covenant. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 293 

Though heav'n its helping grace should yield, 
Yet merit's still upon the field ; 
We cast the name, yet still 'tis found 
Disclaim'd but with a verbal sound. 

If one should borrow tools from you, 
That he some famous work might do ; 
When once his work is well prepar'd, 
He sure deserves his due reward ; 

Yea justly may he claim his due, 
Although he borrow'd tools from you ; 
Ev'n thus the borrow'd strength of grace 
Can't hinder merit to take place. 

From whence soe'er we borrow pow'rs, 
If life depend on works of ours ; 
Or if we make the gospel thus 
In any sort depend on us ; 

We give the law the gospel-place, 
Rewards of debt the room of grace ; 
We mix Heav'n's treasures with our trash, 
And magnify corrupted flesh. 

The new and gospel covenant 
No promise to our works will grant, 
But to the doing of our Head, 
And in him to each gospel-deed. 

To godliness which is great gain, 
Promise is said to appertain : 
But know, lest you the gospel mar, 
In whom it is we godly are. 

To him and to his righteousness 
Still primar'ly the promise is ; 
And not ev'n to the gracious deed, 
Save in and through the glorious Head. 

Pray let us here observe the odds, 
How law and grace take counter roads ; 
The law of works no promise spake 
Unto the agent, but the act. 



294 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

It primar'ly no promise made 
Unto the person, but the deed : 
Whate'er the doing person shar'd, 
'Twas for his deed he had reward. 

The law of grace o'erturns the scale, 
And makes the quite reverse prevail ; 
Its promise lights not on the deed, 
But on the doing person's head ; 

Not for his doing, but for this, 
Because in Christ his person is : 
Which union to the living Prince, 
His living works and deeds evince. 

Good fruits have promise in this view, 
As union to the branch they shew ; 
To whom the promises pertain, 
In him all yea, and all Amen. 

Observe, pray ; for if here we err, 
And do not Christ alone prefer, 
But think the promise partly stands 
On our obeying new commands ; 

Th' old cov'nant-place to works we give, 
Or mingled grace with Do and Live, 
We overcloud the gospel charms 
And also break our working arms ; 

More honour to the law profess, 
But giving more we give it less : 
Its heavy yoke in vain we draw, 
By turning gospel into law. 

We rob grace of its joyful sound, 
And bury Christ in Moses' ground : 
At best we run a legal race 
Upon the field of gospel-grace. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 295 



Paragraph III. — The Gospel no new Law, but a joyful 
sound of Grace and Mercy, 

LAW-Precepts in a gospel-mould, 
We may as gospel-doctrine hold ; 
But gospel calls in legal dress, 
The joyful sound of grace suppress. 

Faith and repentance may be taught* 
And yet no gospel-tidings brought ; 
If as mere duties these we press, 
And not as parts of promis'd bliss. 

If only precepts we present, 
Though urg'd with strongest argument, 
We leave the wak'ned sinner's hope 
In darkness of despair to grope. 

The man whom legal precepts chase, 
As yet estrang'd to sov'reign grace, 
Mistaking evangelic charms, 
As if they stood on legal terms ; 

Looks to himself, though dead in sin, 
For grounds of faith and hope within ; 
Hence fears and fetters grow and sw T ell, 
Since nought's within but sin and hell. 

But faith that looks to promis'd grace, 
Clean out of self the soul will chase, 
To Christ for righteousness and strength. 
And find the joyful rest at length. 

Proud flesh and blood will startle here, 
And hardly such report can bear, 
That Heav'n all saving store will give. 
To them that work not, but believe. 

Yet not of works, but 'tis the race 
Of faith, that it may be of grace : 
For faith does nothing but agree, 
To welcome this salvation free. 



296 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

" Come down, Zaccheus, quickly come, 
Salvation's brought unto thy home : 
Jn vain thou climb'st the legal tree ; 
Salvation freely comes to thee. 

Thou dream'st of coming up to terms ; 
Come down into my saving arms ; 
Down, down, and get a pardon free, 
On terms already wrought by me. 

Behold the blessings of my blood, 
Bought for thy everlasting good, 
And freely all to be convey'd 
Upon the price already paid. 

I know thou hast no good, and see 
I cannot stand on terms with thee, 
Whose fall has left thee nought to claim, 
Nor aught to boast but sin and shame." 

The law of heavy hard commands 
Confirms the weak'ned sinners bands ; 
But grace proclaims relieving news, 
And scenes of matchless mercy shews. 

No precept clogs the gospel-call, 
But wherein grace is all in all; 
No law is here but that of grace, 
Which brings relief in ev'ry case. 

The gospel is the promise fair 
Of grace, all ruins to repair, 
And leaves no sinner room to say, 
" Alas ! this debt I cannot pay ; 

This grievous yoke I cannot bear, 
This high demand I cannot clear." 
Grace stops the mouth of such complaints, 
And store of full supply presents. 

The glorious gospel is (in brief) 

A sov'reign word of sweet relief; 

Not clogged with cumbersome commands, 

To bind the soul's receiving hands. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 297 

? Tis joyful news of sov'reign grace, 
That reigns in state through righteousness, 
To ransom from all threat'ning woes, 
And answer all commanding does: 

This gospel comes with help indeed, 
Adapted unto sinners need : 
These joyful news that suit their case 
Are chariots of his drawing grace : 

? Tis here the Spirit powerful rides, 
The fountains of the deep divides ; 
The King of glory's splendour shows, 
And wins the heart with welcome news. 

Paragraph IV The Go sybil, further described, as a bundle 

of Good News and Gracious Promises, 

The first grand promise forth did break 
In threats against the tempting snake : 
So may the gospel in commands ; 
Yet nor in threats nor precepts stands : 

But 'tis a doctrine of free grants 
To sinners, that they may be saints : 
A joyful sound of royal gifts, 
To obviate unbelieving shifts : 

A promise of divine supplies, 
To work all gracious qualities 
In those w r ho, pronest to rebel, 
Are only qualified for hell. 

Courting vile sinners, ev'n the chief, 
It leaves no cloak for unbelief; 
But ev'n on gross Manasseh's calls, 
On Mary Magdalen's and Saul's. 

'Tis good news of a fountain ope 
For sin and filth ; a door of hope 
For those that lie in blood and gore> 
And of a salve for ev'ry sore. 

u 



298 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

Glad news of sight unto the blind ; 
Of light unto the darken'd mind ; 
Of healing to the deadly sick ; 
And mercy both to Jew and Greek. 

Good news of gold to poor that lack ; 
Of raiment to the naked back ; 
Of binding to the wounds that smart ; 
And rest unto the weary heart. 

Glad news of freedom to the bound ; 
Of store all losses to refund ; 
Of endless life unto the dead ; 
And present help in time of need. 

Good news of heav'n where angels dwell? 
To those that well deserved hell \ 
Of strength to weak, for work and war? 
And access near to those afar. 

Glad news of joy to those that weep, 
And tender care of cripple sheep ; 
Of shelter to the soul pursued, 
And cleansing to the hellish-hued : 

Of floods to sap the parched ground, 
And streams to run the desert round ; 
Of ransom to the captive caught, 
And harbour to the foundering yacht : 

Of timely aid to weary groans ; 
Of joy restored to broken bones; 
Of grace divine to graceless preys, 
And glory to the vile and base : 

Of living water pure, that teems 
On fainting souls refreshing streams ; 
Of gen'rous wine to cheer the strong, 
And milk to feed the tender young ; 

Of saving faith to faithless ones ; 
Of softening grace to flinty stones ; 
Of pardon to a guilty crew, 
And mercy free, where wrath was due. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 299 

Good news of welcome, kind to all 
That come to Jesus at his call ; 
Yea, news of drawing power, when scant 
To those that fain would come, and can't. 

Glad news of rich mysterious grace, 
And mercy meeting every case ; 
Of store immense all voids to fill, 
And free to whomsoever will : 

Of Christ exalted as a Prince, 
Pardons to give and penitence ; 
Of grace o'ercoming stubborn wills, 
And leaping over Bether hills. 

Faith comes by hearing these reports ; 
Straight to the court of grace resorts, 
And free of mercenary thought, 
Gets royal bounty all for nought. 

Faith's wing within the clammy sea 
Of legal merit cannot fly : 
But, mounting mercy's air apace, 
Soars in the element of grace. 

But as free love the blessing gives 
To him that works not but believes ; 
So faith, once reaching its desire, 
Works hard by love, but not for hire. 

CHAPTER III. 

The Believer's Principles concerning Justification and 
Sanctification, their Difference and Harmony. 

SECTION I — The difference between Justification and 
Sanctification ; or righteousness imputed, and grace im- 
parted ; in upwards of thirty particulars * 

* Note — That, (metri causa) Justification is here sometimes ex- 
pressed by the words imputed grace, justifying grace, righteousness 
&c. ; Sanctification by the names, imparted grace, grace, graces, holi- 
ness, sanctity, &c. ; which the judicious will easily understand. 
T 2 



300 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART Y% 

Kind Jesus spent his life to spin 
My robe of perfect righteousness ; 

But by his Spirit 's work within 
He forms my gracious holy dress. 

He as a Priest me justifies, 

His blood does roaring conscience still % 
But as a King he sanctifies, 

And subjugates my stubborn will. 

He, justifying by his merit, 

Imputes to me his righteousness % 

But, sanctifying by his Spirit, 
Infuses in me saving grace* 

My justifying righteousness 

Can merit by condignity ; 
But nothing with my strongest grace 

Can be deserved by naughty me. 

This justifying favour sets 

The guilt of all my sin remote ; 
But sanctifying grace deletes 

The filth and blackness of its blot. 

By virtue of this righteousness, 

Sin can't condemn nor justly brand t 
By virtue of infused grace, 

Anon it ceases to command. 
The righteousness which I enjoy, 

Sin's damning power will wholly stay ; 
And grace imparted will destroy 

Its ruling^ domineering sway. 

The former is my Judge's act 

Of condonation full and free : 
The latter, his commenced fact. 

And gradual work advanced in me. 

The former's instantaneous^ 

The moment that I first believe ; 

The latter is, as heave n allows, 
Progressive while otv earth I live. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES* 301 

The first will peace to conscience give, 
The last the filthy heart will cleanse ; 

The first effects a relative, 

The last, a real inward change. 

The former pardons every sin, 

And counts me righteous, free, and just: 
The latter quickens grace within, 

And mortifies my sin and lust. 

Imputed grace entitles me 

Unto eternal happiness ; 
Imparted grace will qualify 

That heavenly kingdom to possess. 

My righteousness is infinite, 

Both subjectively and in kind, 
My holiness most incomplete, 

And daily wavers like the wind. 

So lasting is my outer dress, 

It never wears nor waxes old; 
My inner garb of grace decays 

And fades, if Heaven do not uphold. 

My righteousness and pardon is 

At once most perfect and complete ; 

But sanctity admits degrees, 
Does vary, fluctuate, and fleet. 

Hence fixed, my righteousness divine 

No re <i\ change can undergo; 
But all my graces wax and wane, 

By various turnings ebb and flow. 

I'm by the first as righteous now 

As e'er hereafter I can be : 
The last will to perfection grow, 

Heaven only is the full degree. 

The first is equal, wholly given, 
And still the same in every saint: 

The last unequal and uneven, 

Whilst some enjoy what others wan£* 
u3 



S02 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

My righteousness divine is fresh, 
For ever pure and heavenly both ; 

My sanctity is partly^/fesA, 

And justly termed a menstruous cloth, 

Mr righteousness I magnify, 

'Tis my triumphant lofty flag ; 
But poised with this, my sanctity 

Is nothing but a filthy rag. 

I glory in my righteousness, 

And loud extol it with my tongue ; 

But all my grace, compared with this* 
I nnder-rate as loss and dung. 

By justifying grace, Fin apt 

Of divine favour free to boast ;< 
By holiness, Fm partly shaped 

Into his image I had lost. 

The first to divine Justice pays 
A rent to still the furious storm %. 

The last, to divine holiness 
Instructs me duly to conform. 

The first does quench the fiery law, 

Its rigid covenant fully stay ; 
The last, its rule embroidered draw, 

To deck my heart, and gild my way,. 

The subject of my righteousness 

Is Christ himself my glorious Head % 

But I the subject am of grace, 
As he supplies my daily need. 

The matter of the former too 

Is only Christ's obedience dear ;. 
But lo, his helping me to do 

Is all the work and matter here. 

I on my righteousness rely 

For Heav'n's acceptance free, and win ;. 
But in this matter must deny 

My grace, ev'n as I do my sin. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 303 

Though all my graces precious are, 

Yea, perfect also in desire ; 
They cannot stand before the bar 

Where awful justice is umpire : 

But, in the robe that Christ did spin, 
They are of great and high request; 

They have acceptance, wrapt within 
My elder Brother's bloody vest. 

My righteousness proclaims me great 

And fair, ev'n the sight of God ; 
But sanctity's my main off-set 

Before the gazing world abroad* 

More justify'd I cannot be 

By all my most religious acts ; 
But these increase my sanctity, 

That's still attended with defects. 

My righteousness the safest ark 

'Midst ev'ry threat'ning flood will be ; 

My graces but a leaking bark 
Upon a stormy raging sea. 

I see in justifying grace 

God's love to me does ardent burn ; 
But by imparted holiness 

I, grateful, love for love return. 

My righteousness is that which draws 
My thankful heart to this respect : 

The former then is first the cause, 
The latter is the sweet effect. 

Christ is in justifying me, 

By name, The Lord my righteousness i 
But, as he comes to sanctify, 

The Lord my strength and help he is. 

In that I have the patient's place, 

For there Jehovah's act is all ; 
But in the other I'm through grace 

An agent working at his call. 



304 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

The first does slavish fear forbid, 
For there his wrath revenging ends ; 

The last commands my filial dread, 
For here paternal ire attends. 

The former does annul my wo, 
By God's judicial sentence pass'd ; 

The latter makes my graces grow, 
Faith, love, repentance, and the rest. 

The first does divine pard'ning love 

Most freely manifest to me ; 
The last makes shining graces prove 

Mine int'rest in the pardon free. 

My soul in justifying grace 

Does full and free acceptance gain ; 

In sanctity I heav'n-ward press, 
By sweet assistance I obtain. 

The first declares I'm free of debt, 

And nothing left for me to pay; 
The last makes me a debtor yet, 

But helps to pay it every day. 

My righteousness, with wounds and blood, 
Discharged both law and justice' score ; 

Hence, with the debt of gratitude 
I'll charge myself for evermore. 

SECTION II. — The Harmony between Justification and 
Sanctiiication. 

He who me decks with righteousness, 

With grace will also clothe ; 
For glorious Jesus came to bless 

By blood and water both. 

That in his righteousness I trust, 

My sanctity will show; 
Though graces cannot make me just, 

Tfeey show me to be so. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 305 

All those who, freely justified. 

Are of the pardon'd race, 
Anon are also sanctify'd 

And purify'd by grace. 

Where justice stern does justify, 

There holiness is cleared ; 
Heav'n's equity and sanctity 

Can never be sever'd. 

Hence, when my soul with pardon deek'd, 

Perceives no divine ire, 
Then holiness I do effect 

With passionate desire. 

His justifying grace is such 

As wafts my soul to heaven : 
I cannot choose but love him much, 

Who much has me forgiven. 

The Sun of righteousness that brings 

Remission in his rays, 
The healing, in his golden wings 

Of light and heat, conveys. 

Wherever Jesus is a Priest, 

There will he be a King ; 
He that assoils from sin's arrest, 

Won't tolerate its reign. 

The title of a precious grace 

To faith may justly fall, 
Because its open arms embrace 

A precious Christ for all. 

From precious faith a precious stream 

Of precious virtues flow ; 
A precious heart, a precious life, 

And precious duties tup. 

Wherever faith does justify, 

It purifies the heart : 
The pardon and the purity 

Join hands and never part. 



306 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

The happy state of pardon doth 

An holy life infer : 
In subjects capable of both 

They never sunder'd were. 

Yet in defence of truth must we 

Distinctly view the twain ; 
That how they differ, how agree, 

We may in truth maintain. 

Two natures in one person dwell, 

Which no divison know, 
In our renowned Immanuel, 

Without confusion too. 

Those that divide them grossly err, 

Though yet distinct they be : 
Those who confusion hence infer, 

Imagine blasphemy. 

Thus righteousness and grace we must 

Nor sunder nor confound ; 
Else holy peace to us is lost, 

And sacred truth we wound. 

While we their proper place maintain, 

In friendship sweet they dwell ; 
But or to part or blend the twain, 

Are errors hatched in hell. 

To separate what God does join, 

Is wicked and profane ; 
To mix and mutilate his coin, 

Is damnable and vain. 

Though plain distinction must take place, 

Yet no division here, 
Nor dark confusion ; else the grace 

Of both will disappear. 

Lo! errors gross on every side 

Conspire to hurt and wound ; 
Antinomists do them divide, 

And legalists confound. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 307 

CHAPTER IV. 
The Believer's Principles, concerning Faith and Sense, 

1. OF FAITH AND SENSE NATURAL. 

2. OF FAITH AND SENSE SPIRITUAL. 

3. THE HARMONY AND DISCORD BETWEEN FAITH AND SENSE. 

4. THE VALOUR AND VICTORIES OF FAITH. 

5. THE HEIGHTS AND DEPTHS OF SENSE. 

6. FAITH AND FRAMES COMPARED ; OR, FAITH BUILDING 

UPON SENSE DISCOVERED. 

SECTION I. — Faith and Sense Natural, compared and 
distinguished. 

When Abram's body, Sarah's womb, 
Were ripe for nothing but the tomb, 
Exceeding old, and wholly dead, 
Unlike to bear the promised seed ; 

Faith said, / shall an Isaac see : 
No, no, said sense, it cannot be : 
Blind reason, to augment the strife, 
Adds, How can death engender life ? 

My heart is like a rotten tomb, 
More dead than ever Sarah's womb ; 
O ! can the promised seed of grace 
Spring forth from such a barren place ? 

Sense gazing but on flinty rocks, 
My hope and expectation chokes : 
But could I, skill'd in Abram's art, 
O'orlook my dead and barren heart ; 

And build my hope on nothing less 
Than divine power and faithfulness ; 
Soon would I find him raise up sons 
To Abram, out of stocks and stones. 

Faith acts as busy boatmen do, 

Who backward look and forward row ; 



308 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VJ. 

It looks intent to things unseen, 
Thinks objects visible too mean. 

Sense thinks it madness thus to steer, 
And only trusts its eye and ear ; 
Into faith's boat dare thrust its oar, 
And put it further from the shore. 

Faith does alone the promise eye ; 
Sense won't believe unless it see ; 
Nor can it trust the divine guide, 
Unless it have both wind and tide. 

Faith thinks the promise sure and good ; 
Sense doth depend on likelihood ; 
Faith even in storms believes the seers; 
Faith calls all men, even prophets, liars. 

Faith uses means, but rests on none ; 
Sense fails when outward means are gone, 
Trusts more on probabilities, 
Than all the divine promises. 

It rests upon the rusty beam 
Of outward things that hopeful seem ; 
Let these its support sink or cease, 
No promise then can yield it peace. 

True faith, that's of a divine brood, 
Consults not base with flesh and blood ; 
But carnal sense, which ever errs, 
With carnal reason still confers. 

What ! won't my disciples believe 
That I am risen from the grave? 
Why will they pore on dust and death, 
And overlook my quickening breath? 

Why do they slight the word I spake ? 
And rather sorry counsel take 
With death, and with a powerful grave, 
If they their captive can relieve ? 

Sense does inquire if tombs of clay 
Can send their guests alive away ; 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 309 

But faith will hear Jehovah's word, 
Of life and death the sovereign Lord. 

Should I give ear to rotten dust, 
Or to the tomb confine ray trust; 
No resurrection can I see, 
For dust that flies into my eye. 

What! Thomas, can't thou trust so much 
To me, as to thy sight and touch ? 
Won't thou believe till sense be guide, 
And thrust its hand into my side ? 

Where is thy faith, if it depends 
On nothing but thy finger-ends ? 
But bless'd are they the truth who seal 
By faith, yet neither see nor feel. 

SECTION II Faith and Sense Spiritual compared and 

distinguished. Where also the Difference between the As- 
surance of Faith, and the Assurance of Sense. 

The certainty of faith and sense 
Wide differ in experience ; 
Faith builds upon, Thus saith the Lord : 
Sense views his work, and not his word. 

God's word without is faith's resort, 
His work within doth sense support. 
By faith we trust him without pawns,* 
By sense we handle with our hands. 

By faith the word of truth's receiv'd, 
By sense we know we have believ'd. 
Faith's certain by fiducial acts, 
Sense by its evidential facts. 

Faith credits the divine report, 
Sense to his breathings makes resort : 
That on his ivord of grace will hing, 
This on his Spirit witnessing. 

* Pledges. 



310 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

By faith I take the Lord for mine, 
By sense I feel his love divine : 
By that I touch his garment hem, 
By this find virtue thence to stream. 

By faith I have mine all on band, 
By sense I have some stock in hand : 
By that some vision is begun, 
By this I some fruition win. 

My faith can fend ev'n in exile, 
Sense cannot live without a smile. 
By faith I to his promise fly, 
By sense I in his bosom lie. 

Faith builds upon the truth of God, 
That lies within the promise broad ; 
But sense upon the truth of grace 
His hand within my heart did place. 

Thus Christ's the object faith will eye, 
And faith's the object sense may see : 
Faith keeps the truth of God in view, 
While sense the truth of faith may shew. 

Hence faith's assurance firm can stand, 
When sense's in the deep may strand ; 
And faith's persuasion full prevail, 
When comfortable sense may fail. 

I am assur'd, when faith's in act, 
Though sense and feeling both I lack ; 
And thus mysterious is my lot, 
I'm oft assur'd when I am not ; 

Oft pierc'd with racking doubts and fears : 
Yet faith these brambles never bears ; 
But unbelief that cuts my breath, 
And stops the language of my faith. 

Clamours of unbelieving fears, 
So frequently disturb mine ears, 
I cannot hear what faith would say, 
Till once the noisy clamours stay* 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 31 1 

And then will fresh experience find, 
When faith gets leave to speak its mind, 
The native language whereof is, 
My Lord is mine, and I am his. 

Sad doubtings compass me about, 
Yet faith itself could never doubt 5 
For, as the sacred volume saith, 
Much doubting argues little faith. 

The doubts and fears that work my grief, 
Flow not from faith, but unbelief; 
For faith, whene'er it acteth, cures 
The plague of doubts, and me assures : 

But when mine eye of faith's asleep, 
I dream of drowning in the deep : 
But as befals the sleeping eye, 
Though sight remain, it cannot see ; 
The seeing faculty abides, 
Though sleep from active seeing hides: 
So faith's alluring pow'rs endure 
Ev'n when it ceases to assure. 

There's still persuasion in my faith, 
Ev'n when I'm fill'd with fears of wrath ; 
The trusting habit still remains, 
Though slumbers hold the act in chains. 

Th' assuring faculty it keeps, 
Ev'n when its eye in darkness sleeps, 
Wrapt up in doubts ; but when it wakes, 
It rouses up assuring acts. 

SECTION III The Harmony and Discord between Faith 

and Sense ; how they help, and how they mar each other * 

Though gallant faith can keep the field, 
When cow'rdly sense will fly or yield ; 
Yet while I view their usual path, 
Sense often stands and falls with faith. 

Faith ushers in sweet peace and joy, 
Which further heartens faith's employ : 



312 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

Faith, like the head, and sense the heart, 
Do mutual vigour fresh impart. 

When lively faith and feeling sweet, 
Like dearest darlings, kindly meet, 
They straight each other help and hug 
In loving friendship close and snug. 

Faith gives to sense both life and breath, 
And sense gives joy and strength to faith ; 
" O now," says faith, "how fond do I 
" In sense's glowing bosom lie !" 

Their mutual kindness then is such, 
That oft, they doating too too much, 
Embrace each other out of breath ; 
As iEsop hugg'd his child to death. 

Faith leaping into sense's arms, 
Allur'd with her bewitching charms, 
In hugging these, let rashly slip 
The proper object of its gripe. 

Which being lost, behold the thrall ! 
Anon faith loses sense and all ; 
Thus unawares cuts sense's breath, 
While sense trips up the heels of faith. 

Her charms assuming Jesus' place, 
While faith's luli'd in her soft embrace; 
Lo ! soon in dying pleasures wrapt, 
Its living joy away is snapt. 

SECTION IV The Valour and Victories of Faith. 

By faith I unseen Being see 

Forth lower beings call, 
And say to nothing, Let it be, 

And nothing hatches all. 

By faith I know the worlds were made 

By God's great word of might ; 
How soon, Let there be light : , he said, 

That moment there was light. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 313 

By faith I soar and force my flight, 

Through all the clouds of sense ; 
I see the glories out of sight, 

With brightest evidence. 

By faith I mount the azure sky 

And from the lofty sphere, 
The earth a little mote espy, 

Unworthy of my care. 

By faith I see the unseen things, 

Hid from all mortal eyes ; 
Proud reason stretching all its wings, 

Beneath me flutt'ring lies. 

By faith I build my lasting hope 

On righteousness divine ; 
Nor can I sink with such a prop, 

Whatever storms combine. 

By faith my works, my righteousness, 

And duties all I own 
But loss and dung ; and lay my stress 

On what my Lord has done. 

By faith I overcome the world, 

And all its hurtful charms ; 
I'm in the heav'nly chariot hurl'd 

Through all opposing harms. 

By faith I have a conqu'ring pow'r 

To tread upon my foes, 
To triumph in a dying hour, 

And banish all my woes. 

By faith in midst of wrongs I'm right, 

In sad decays I thrive ; 
In weakness I am strong in might, 
In death I am alive. 

By faith I stand when deep I fall, 

In darkness I have light ; 
Nor dare I doubt and question all, 

When all is out of sight. 
w 



314 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

By faith I trust a pardon free, 

Which puzzles flesh and hlood ; 
To think that God can justify, 

Where yet he sees no good. 

By faith I keep my Lord's commands, 

To verify my trust ; 
1 purify my heart and hands, 

And mortify my lust. 
By faith my melting soul repents, 

When pierced Christ appears ; 
My heart in grateful praises vents, 

Mine eyes in joyful tears. 

By faith I can the mountains vast 

Of sin and guilt remove ; 
And them into the ocean cast, 

The sea of blood and love. 

By faith I see Jehovah high 

Upon a throne of grace ; 
I see him lay his vengeance by, 

And smile in Jesus' face. 

By faith I hope to see the Sun, 

The light of grace that lent ; 
His everlasting circles run, 

In glory's firmament. 

By faith I'm more than conqueror, 

Ev'n though I nothing can, 
Because I set Jehovah's power 

Before me in the van. 

By faith I counter-plot my foes, 

Nor need their ambush fear ; 
Because my life-guard also goes, 

Behind me in the rear. 

By faith I walk, I run, I fly, 

By faith I suffer thrall ; 
By faith I'm fit to live and die, 

By faith I can do all. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 315 

SECTION V The Heights and Depths of Sense. 

When Heaven me grants at certain times. 

Amidst a powerful gale, 
Sweet liberty to moan my crimes, 

And wanderings to bewail ; 

Then do I dream my sinful brood, 

Drown'd in the ocean main 
Of chrystal tears and crimson blood. 

Will never live again. 

I get my foes beneath my feet, 

I bruise the serpent's head ; 
I hope the vict'ry is complete, 

And all my lusts are dead. 

How gladly do I think and say 

When thus it is with me, 
Sin to my sense is clean away 

And so shall ever be. 

But, ah ! alas ! th' ensuing hour 

My lusts arise and swell, 
They rage and reinforce their power, 

With new recruits from hell. 

Though I resolv'd and swore, through grace, 

In very solemn terms, 
I never should my lusts embrace, 

Nor yield unto their charms. 

Yet such deceitful friends they are> 

While I no danger dream ; 
I'm snar'd before I am aware, 

And hurry'd down the stream. 

Into the gulph of sin anon, 

Fm plunged head and ears ; 
Grace to my sense is wholly gone, 

And I am chained in fears ; 
w 2 



316 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

Till straight my Lord with sweet surprise 

Returns to loose my bands, 
With kind compassion in his eyes, 

And pardon in his hands : 

Yet thus my life is nothing else 

But heav'n and hell by turns ; 
My soul, that now in Goshen dwells, 

Anon in Egypt mourns. 

SECTION VI Faith and Frames compared; or, Faith 

building upon Sense discovered. 

Faith has for its foundation broad 

A stable rock on which I stand, 
The truth and faithfulness of God ; 

All other grounds are sinking sand. 

My frames and feelings ebb and flow ; 

And when my faith depends on them, 
It fleets and staggers to and fro, 

And dies amidst the dying frame. 

That faith is surely most unstay'd, 

Its staggering can't be counted strange, 

That builds its hope of lasting aid 

On things that every moment change. 

But could my faith lay all its load 

On Jesus' everlasting name ; 
Upon the righteousness of God, 

And divine truth that's still the same : 

Could I believe that God has spoke, 

Rely on his unchanging love, 
And cease to grasp a fleeting smoke, 

No changes would my mountain move. 

But when, how soon the frame's away, 

And comfortable feelings fail ; 
So soon my faith falls in decay, 

And unbelieving doubts prevail : 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 317 

This proves the charge of latent vice, 
And plain my faith's defects may show ; 

I build the house on thawing ice, 

That tumbles with the melting snow. 

When divine smiles in sight appear, 

And I enjoy the heav'nly gale ; 
When wind and tide and all is fair, 

I dream my faith shall never fail ; 

My heart will false conclusions draw, 
That strong my mountain shall remain, 

That in my faith there is no flaw, 
I'll never never doubt again. 

I think the only rest I take, 

Is God's unfading word and name ; 

And fancy not my faith so weak, 
As e'er to trust a fading frame. 

But, ah ! by sudden turns I see 

My living heart's fallacious guilt, 
And that my faith, not firm in me, 

On sinking sand was partly built : 

For, lo ! when warming beams are gone, 
And shadows fall ; alas ! 'tis odd, 

I cannot wait the rising Sun, 
I cannot trust a hiding God. 

So much my faith's assistance seems 

Its life from fading joys to bring, 
That when I lose the dying streams, 

I cannot trust the living spring. 

When drops of comfort quickly dry'd, 

And sensible enjoyments fail : 
When cheering apples are denied 

Then doubts, instead of faith, prevail. 

But why though fruit be snatch'd from me, 
Should I distrust the glorious Root ; 
w 3 



318 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART V|. 

And still affront the standing Tree, 
By trusting more to falling fruit ? 

The smallest trials may evince 
My faith unfit to stand the shock, 

That more depends on fleeting sense, 
Than on the fix'd eternal Rock. 

The safest ark, when floods arise, 

Is stable truth that changes not : 
How weak's my faith, that more relies 
On feeble sense's floating boat ! 

For when the fleeting frame is gone, 
I straight my state in question call ; 

I droop and sink in deeps anon, 
As if my frame were all in all. 

But though I miss the pleasing gale, 
And Heav'n withdraw the charming glance ; 

Unless Jehovah's oath can fail, 
My faith may keep it countenance. 

The frame of nature shall decay, 

Time-changes break her rusty chains ; 

Yea, heav'n and earth shall pass away ; 
But faith's foundation firm remains. 

Heaven's promises so fix'dly stand, 

Engrav'd with an immortal pen, 
In great ImmanueVs mighty hand, 

All hell's attempts to raze are vain. 

Did faith with none but truth advise, 
My steady soul would move no more* 

Than stable hills when tempests rise, 
Or solid rocks when billows roar. 

But when my faith the counsel hears 
Of present sense and reason blind, 
My wav'ring spirit then appears, 
4k feather toss'd with ev'rv wind. 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 319 

Lame legs of faith unequal crook : 

Thus mine, alas ! uneven stand, 
Else I would trust my stable Rock, 

Not fading frames and feeble sand. 

I would, when dying comforts fly, 
As much as when they present were, 

Upon my living joy rely. 

Help, Lord, for here I daily err. 

CHAPTER V. 

The Believer's Principles concerning Heaven and Earth. 

SECTION I The Work and Contention of Heaven, 

In heav'nly choirs a question rose, 
That stirred up strife will never close, 
What rank of all the ransom'd race 
Owes highest praise to sov'reign grace ? 

Babes thither caught from womb and breast, 
Claim'd right to sing above the rest; 
Because they found the happy shore 
They never saw nor sought before. 

Those that arrived at riper age 
Before they left the clunky stage, 
Thought grace deserv'd yet higher praise, 
That wash'd the blots of num'rous days. 

Anon the war more close began, 
What praising harp should lead the van 
And which of grace's heav'nly peers 
Was deepest run in her arrears. 

"'Tis I (said one,) 'bove all my race, 
Am debtor chief to glorious grace." 
" Nay, (said another,) hark, 1 trow, 
I'm more oblig'd to grace than you." 

u Stay, (said a third,) I deepest share 
In owing praise beyond compare; 



320 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI 

The chief of sinners, you'll allow, 
Must be the chief of singers now." 

" Hold (said a fourth,) I here protest 
My praises must outvie the best ; 
For I'm of all the human race 
The highest miracle of grace/' 

" Stop, (said a fifth,) these notes forbear, 
Lo, I'm the greatest wonder here ; 
For I of all the race that fell, 
Deserv'd the lowest place in hell." 

A soul that higher yet aspir'd, 
With equal love to Jesus fir'd, 
" 'Tis mine to sing the highest notes 
To love, that wash'd the foulest blots." 

" Ho, (cry'd a mate), 'tis mine I'll prove, 
Who sinn'd in spite of light and love, 
To sound his praise with loudest bell, 
That sav'd me from the lowest hell." 

" Come, come, (said one), I'll hold the plea 
That highest praise is due by me ; 
For mine, of all the sav'd by grace, 
Was the most dreadful, desp'rate case." 

Another rising at his side, 
As fond of praise, and free of pride, 
Cry'd, " Pray give place, for I defy, 
That you should owe more praise than L 

" I'll yield to none in this debate ; 
I'm run so deep in grace's debt, 
That sure I am, I boldly can 
Compare with all the heav'nly clan." 

Quick o'er their heads a trump awoke, 
" Your songs my very heart have spoke £ 
But ev'ry note you here propel, 
Belongs to me beyond you all." 






THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. 321 

The listening millions round about 
With sweet resentment loudly shout ; 
" What voice is this, comparing notes, 
That to their song chief place allots ? 

" We can't allow of such a sound, 
That you alone have highest ground 
To sing the royalties of grace ; 
We claim the same adoring place." 

" What ! will no rival-singer yield 
He has a match upon the field ? 
Come, then, and let us all agree 
To praise upon the highest key." 

Then jointly all the harpers round 
In mind unite with solemn sound, 
And strokes upon the highest string, 
Made all the heav'nly arches ring — 

Ring loud with hallelujahs high, 
To him that sent his Son to die ; 
And to the worthy Lamb of God, 
That lotfd and washed them in his blood. 

Free grace was sovereign empress crown'd 
In pomp, with joyful shouts around ; 
Assisting angels clapp'd their wings, 
And sounded grace on all their strings. 

The emulation round the throne 
Made prostrate hosts (who ev'ry one 
The humblest place their right avow) 
Strive who shall give the lowest bow. 

The next contention without voice 
Among the birds of paradise, 
Made every glorious warbling throat 
Strive who shall raise the highest note. 

Thus in sweet holy humble strife 
Along their endless, joyful life 
Of Jesus all the harpers rove, 
And sing the wonders of his love. 



322 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

Their discord makes them all unite 
In raptures most divinely sweet, 
So great the song, so grave the base, 
Melodious music tills the place. 

SECTION II. — Earth despicable, Heaven desirable. 

There's nothing round the spacious earth 

To suit my vast desires ; 
To more refin'd and solid mirth 

My boundless thought aspires. 

Fain would I leave this mournful place, 

This music dull, where none 
But heavy notes have any grace, 

And mirth accents the mean. 

Where troubles tread upon reliefs, 

New woes with older blend ; 
When rolling storms and circling griefs 

Run round without an end : 

Where water wrestling with the stones, 

Do fight themselves to foam, 
And hollow clouds with thundering groans 

Discharge their pregnant womb. 

Where eagles mounting meet with rubs, 

That dash them from the sky : 
And cedars shrinking into shrubs, 

In ruin prostrate lie : 

Where sin, the author of turmoils 

The cause of death and hell, 
The one thing foul that all things foils, 

Does most befriended dwell. 

The purchaser of night and woe, 

The forfeiture of day, 
The debt that ev'ry man did owe, 

But only God could pay. 

Bewitched ill, indorsed with hope, 
Subscribed with despair : 



THE BELIEVER'S PRINCIPLES. - 323 

Ugly in death when eyes are ope 
Though life may paint it fair. 

Small wonder that I droop alone 

In such a doleful place : 
When lo, my dearest friend is gone 

My father hides his face. 

And though in words I seem to show 

The fawning poet's style, 
Yet is my plaint no feigned woe ; 

I languish in exile. 

I long to share the happiness 

Of that triumphant throng, 
That swim in seas of boundless bliss 

Eternity along. 

When but in drops here by the way 

Free love distils itself, 
I pour contempt on hills of prey, 

And heaps of worldly pelf. 

To be amidst my little joys, 

Thrones, sceptres, crowns, and kings, 

Are nothing else but little toys, 
And despicable things. 

Down with disdain earth's pomp I thrust, 

Bid tempting wealth away : 
Heav'n is not made of yellow dust. 
Nor bliss of glittering clay. 

Sweet was the hour I freedom felt 

To call my Jesus mine ; 
To see his smiling face, and melt 

In pleasures all divine. 

Let fools an heaven of shades pursue, 

But I for substance am : 
The heaven I seek is likeness to 

And vision of the Lamb. 



324 GOSPEL SONNETS. [PART VI. 

The worthy Lamb with glory crown'd 

In his august abode ; 
Enthron'd sublime, and deck'd around 

With all the pomp of God. 

I long to join the saints above, 

Who, erown'd with glorious bays, 

Through radiant files of angels move, 
And rival them in praise : 

In praise to JAH, the God of love, 

The fair incarnate Son, 
The holy co-eternal Dove, 

The good, the great Three-one. 

In hope to sing without a sob 

The anthem ever new, 
I gladly bid the dusty globe, 

And vain delights, Adieu. 



THE FOLLOWING POEM, 

the Second Part of which was wrote by Mr. Erskine, is 
here inserted, as a proper subject of Meditation to Smokers 
of Tobacco, 

SMOKING SPIEITUALIZED. 

IN TWO PARTS. 

The First Part being an old Meditation upon Smoking To- 
bacco : the Second a new Addition to it, or Improvement 
of it. 

PART I. 

This Indian weed now withered quite, 
Though green at noon, cut down at night, 

Shows thy decay ; 

All flesh is hay. 
Thus think, and smoke tobacco. 

The pipe, so lily like and weak, 
Does thus thy mortal state bespeak. 

Thou art ev'n such, 

Gone with a touch. 
Thus think, and smoke tobacco. 

And when the smoke ascends on high, 
Then thou behold'st the vanity 
Of wordly stuff, 
Gone with a puff. 
Thus think, and smoke tobacco. 

And when the pipe grows foul within, 
Think on thy soul defiled with sin : 
For then the fire 
It does require. 
Thus think, and smoke tobacco, 



326 SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED. 

And seest the ashes cast away ; 
Then to thyself thou mayest say, 

That to the dust 

Return thou must. 
Thus think, and smoke tobacco. 



Was this small plant for thee cut down ? 
So was the Plant of Great Renown ; 
Which mercy sends 
For nobler ends. 
Thus think, and smoke tobacco. 

Doth juice medicinal proceed 
From such a naughty foreign weed ? 

Then what's the power 

Of Jesse's flower ? 
Thus think, and smoke tobacco* 

The promise, like the pipe, inlays, 
And by the mouth of faith conveys 

What virtue flows 

From Sharon's Rose. 
Thus think, and smoke tobacco. 

In vain th' unlighted pipe you blow : 
Your pains in outward means are so, 
Till heav'nly fire 
Your hearts inspire. 
Thus think, and smoke tobacco. 

The smoke, like burning incense, tow'rs ; 
So should a praying heart of yours 

With ardent cries 

Surmount the skies. 
Thus think, and smoke tobacco. 



PRINTED BY 

GEORGE & ROBERT KING, 

28, ST. NICHOLAS STREET, ABERDEEN. 



Just published, Price 3s 6d, Cloth; 

THE 

CHRISTIAN YOUTH'S BOOK, 

AND 

MANUAL FOE YOUNG COMMUNICANTS: 
IN TWO BOOKS. 

BY WILLIAM CRAIG BROWNLEE, D. D. 

Author of " Letters on Romanism," " Popery an enemy to Civil and Religious 

Liberty," " Lights and Shadows of Christian Life," " The Christian 

Father at Home," &c. 

This work contains a clear statement of the great truths of Christianity. It 
abounds with lucid argument and familiar illustration, in which some of the more 
specious sophistries of Infidelity, False Theology, and the secret cavillings of the 
depraved human heart, are detected and exposed. The Author's appeals to the 
conscience are searching and scriptural ; and the whole work overflows with the 
rich feelings of piety and affection, and is written in a style admirably adapted to 
the class to whom it is addressed. Dr. Craig Brownlee is a Pastor in connexion 
with the Dutch Reformed Church in America, and is well known and much re- 
respected by the Evangelical communities of that Country lor his talents, piety, 
and orthodoxy. 

Price One Shilling, Cloth, Gilt Edges ; 

THE PASTOE'S DAUGHTEK, 

OR, 

CONVEBSATIONS 

BETWEEN THE LATE 

DR. E, PxiYSON AND HIS CHILD, 

ON THE 

WAY OF SALVATION BY JESUS CHRIST. 
"WITH AN INTRODUCTORY NOTICE 

BY JACOB ABBOTT. 

On reading the work I was much struck with the clearness and force with 
which the windings and subterfuges of the heart were exposed in it, and with 
the uncommon skill and fidelity with which the daily instructions of the very 
distinguished pastor who gave them had been preserved. The conversations ad- 
mit us at once to their fireside ; we see him in his private hours, and listen to his 
free and familiar conversations with his child. 

Besides, these simple conversations convey in so clear and convincing a man- 
ner, such views of the helpless and hopeless corruption of the human heart, and 
shut up the soul, as it were, so completely to salvation by faith in Jesus Christ ; — 
and these lessons are connected too in a form so well adapted to the great mass 
of society, that it seemed highly desirable that they should come before the public 
in such a form as to secure for them the attention they deserve. 

JACOB ABBOTT. 

ABERDEEN: 

GEORGE & ROBERT KING, 23, ST. NICHOLAS STREET. 



The following Works are Published by 

GEORGE & ROBERT KING, 

ST. NICHOLAS STREET, 

ABERDEEN ; 

And sold by all Booksellers, 

The Confession of Faith, with References to the 

Proofs from Scripture, - - - <£0 4 

The Larger Catechism of the Westminster As- 
sembly, with References to the Proofs from 
Scripture, - - - - - - -004 

Bunyan's Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, 

Prison Meditations, and Last Sermon, cloth, 2 6 

Bunyan's Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, and 

Exhortation to Peace and Unity, cloth, - 3^6 

Bunyan's Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Ebal and 
Gerizim, and A Caution to Stir up and Watch 
against Sin, cloth, _____ 

Bunyan's Acceptable Sacrifice, cloth, 

Bunyan's Jerusalem Sinner Saved, and Four Last 
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of the Forest of Lebanon, cloth, - - 3 6 

Bunyan's Pharisee and Publican, Paul's Departure 
and Crown, the Trinity and a Christian, and the 
Law and a Christian, cloth, ~ - - 3 

Bunyan's Sigh's from Hell, and Christ a Complete 

Saviour, cloth, 040 

Bunyan's Israel's Hope Encouraged, and Heavenly 

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Bunyan's Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal 

Judgment, and Christian Behaviour, cloth, 3 6 

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The Practical Works of John Bunyan, with a Pre- 
liminary Essay on his Character and Writings, 
by the Rev. Alexander Philip, A. M. Minister 
of Cruden, 6 vols. 12mo. cloth, - - - 1 10 






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